Team Herald
MAPUSA: Calangute villagers, led by Calangute Villagers Forum questioned the Assistant Engineer of Calangute electricity department on Monday regarding the constant power cuts in the village for the past three weeks.
Frustrated over the constant power fluctuation throughout the day and night, villagers have demanded an immediate solution.
Villagers also claimed that due to constant power cuts, electronic items such as refrigerators, air-conditioners, computers etc were getting damaged. Locals have alleged that the problem is being faced only by the locals and not by the builders and hoteliers since hoteliers have been getting proper electivity supply.
Sarpanch Anthony Menezes said everyone was responsible for power fluctuation as locals themselves take NOC for domestic connection but later convert it into commercial by way of guest houses. He affirmed that the panchayat had not given NOC to builders for the past one year.
AE Ramdas Salaikar said power shut downs were happening as Calangute was over-loaded and as there is no power supply as per the requirement.
As an immediate solution to the issue the AE, panchayat and locals decided that the electricity department would shut down the power supply of hotels from 6 pm and restore it at 4 am and during the period the hotels would have to use generators.
It was also decided that the electricity department would circulate a list of hotels and resorts that use excess electricity and ask panchayat and ward members will monitor them. Besides, it was also decided that the electricity department would fix a time frame for ward-wise power shutdown for people to carry out their daily activities. The panchayat has now decided not to renew electricity licence of hotels unless the hotels generate 30 per cent their own electricity.
