Congress expresses fear over State losing out on the National Institute of Technology
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane Monday demanded that Goa government take immediate steps to rectify irregular issuing of electricity bills, saying the common man was suffering since payment of lumpsum amount is too much for them to bear. The Congress party also expressed fear over State losing out on the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Goa, since the HRD sanctioned project is in cold storage for nearly one year due to protests, if alternate land is not provided by the government.
“Common man is finding it difficult to make payment of bill of many months clubbed together. This is not good governance. Government has to do something…people are suffering,” he told a press conference at his Legislative Assembly Complex office.
Rane claimed that he himself received power bills of last nine months, as also several houses in his Poriem constituency. “Power Minister (Milind Naik) should wake up…He should reply and take immediate steps and ensure that citizens get regular bills,” he said.
The problem of delayed power billing has often surfaced in the Legislative Assembly to which the government mid-2013 had assured spot billing, which has already been outsourced and implemented phase-wise.
The department had admitted that since around 40,000 electricity had either faulty or non-functional metres it was issuing bills calculated on three months average energy consumption. But many residents have complained that “average energy consumption” were much higher than energy consumed.
On the NIT issue the opposition leader said that he had heard that a committee is coming down to Goa next month… If there is no development on the project, NIT may move out to other states,” and urged the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to take immediate steps in the interest of the local youths.
Locals, under the banner of Cuncolim Citizens’ Action Committee are opposing the project alleging that huge tract of forest land will be cleared for setting up the central educational institute. They have asked government to shift the project out of Cuncolim to Goa University campus at Taleigao plateau which has a lot of space to spare. Cuncolim Municipal Council has also opposed the project.
“The NIT University will also offer PhD in engineering studies besides offering MTech and other professional courses. Education and skilling is most important… Many engineering students have told me that quality of education in the existing engineering colleges is not up to the mark,” he added reiterating that Congress will help the government to locate alternate land in the north district.
The NIT Goa project was announced in 2012 year since the state does not have premier technology institute forcing students from Goa travel to go to neighbouring states for higher education. The State government had announced that Goans are already enjoying 50 percent seats in the NIT.
