PANJIM: Following up on its decision not to foot electricity bills for illumination of religious places, Tourism department has issued a circular asking managements of these religious places to opt for the beautification project provided they can bear the electricity consumption and maintenance charges post the installation.
The circular was issued to all temples, churches and mosques across the State following a decision taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar. The fresh noting mentions that religious institutions where work is already completed and that are unable to pay the billing costs, the government would come to the rescue.
“Through the circular, we have asked the committees/managements of the respective religious institutions to give an undertaking that if they are willing to bear monthly electricity charges besides maintenance cost; it can propose to the government to take benefits of the project,” the minister told Herald, on Wednesday. “The decision is essentially to ensure there is no wastage of electricity.”
He clarified that government will nonetheless continue investing in the installation of the systems. “Further costs will not be our responsibility,” he said.
The department has illuminated 42 temples, 21 churches and one mosque for which it has paid Rs 28 lakh approximately from 2008 till January 2015. In addition to this, the Tourism department has also spent funds for installing high-mast lightings at select locations and paying electricity consumptions charges as well.
The department has taken a sympathetic approach in dealing with religious places where the project is already complete and the institutions are undergoing a financial crunch. After authorities at certain religious places expressed their inability to make payments owing to lack of funds, Parulekar added government is ready to pay the bills.
“We will come to their rescue on condition that the respective religious authorities submit in writing their inability to make payments. It will be followed by a thorough scrutiny,” Parulekar said.
For now, the tourism department has taken up the project at two churches and four temples. “Beautification of many such religious places is in the pipeline. Government will take up the work once all required NOCs and undertakings are met,” Tourism Director Ameya Abhyankar said.
Abhyankar added that payment of monthly electricity bills will now be the responsibility of the temple authority or the respective village panchayats/municipalities. “Power bills are not under the scope of Goa Tourism or Goa Tourism Development Corporation. The energy consumption bills are borne by the temple authority/village panchayat. All are under one time investment policy. Hence, Tourism department or GTDC will not bear the energy or maintenance charges,” he explained.
