SERAULIM: Power Minister Nilesh Cabral on Tuesday with department officials toured the entire Benaulim constituency comprising of Seraulim, Colva, Benaulim, Varca, Orlim, Carmona and Cavelossim and apparently lent ears to the panchyat members who apprised him of the precarious conditions of the existing electricity infrastructure. Sources informed Herald that they also complained about non-functional LED streetlights and frequent power failures in these coastal villages throughout the constituency. Cabral was accompanied by in presence of Benaulim NCP MLA Churchill Alemao.
Cabral had apparently issued immediate instructions to his department to rectify the problems being faced by the locals and assured the panchayat members that the issues would be resolved at the earliest.
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Seraulim sarpanch Leslie Dourado along with his seven panch members drew the attention on constant voltage fluctuations, faulty transformer, old electricity poles and aluminium wiring that needed to be urgently replaced. Dourado told Herald that “the minister assured to resolve our grievances within a period of seven to eight days.”
Colva sarpanch Anthony (Mam) Fernandes along with his nine panch members informed Cabral that the power infrastructure like conductors, etc. installed in their village are almost 50-year-old and urged for immediat replacement as ‘some were worn out while the electricity wiring was corroded and hanging loosely obstructing the access of the emergency vehicles like the fire services into some internal wards of the Colva village.’
A Colva panch member Dylan Gracias apparently informed Cabral that the Churchill was pressurising the electricity department personnel not to conduct any work in the wards of his political opponents.
Benaulim deputy sarpanch Nilesh Prabhudessai said “Regarding my ward, I drew the attention to the electricity poles that had to be removed underground cabling is already functional. Cabral also assured that the problem of excess load of power supply crossing the normal requirement of 230 MW and reaching almost 270 MW at night might be due to a faulty power transformer, which would be resolved by March 31.”
Varca deputy sarpanch Tercy D’Costa disclosed, that they too suffer power fluctuations due to the excessive load on the single transformer. “It was suggested that the power supply be evenly distributed by the power transformer and that the faulty LED street lights be promptly repaired. Cabral heard our grievances and assured to solve the problems by March end,” D’Costa said.
Orlim sarpanch Tamica D’Silva informed that seven panchayat members who were present too harped on the problem of power fluctuations observed on two transformers that the minister assured to resolve. “Also replacement of the faulty conductors as the estimates has already been prepared for renovations and improvement of the power infrastructure Cabral has assured.,” D’Silva said
Minister Nilesh Cabral said “There is a deadline set for replacement of the broken poles. We will get the works done within the next few days.”
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