Team Herald
CANACONA: Agitated over the frequent power outages, prominent citizens from Canacona taluka have blamed the government for the staff shortage in the electricity department and for failing to replace the old overhead wires, which have been the main cause of power failures.
The residents complained that everyday they experience power cuts for hours, which cause severe hardships to the students, general public and businessmen.
According to Socoro Fernandes, Principal of Vividha Commercial Institute, in the last six months, the power department had arranged power shutdowns on at least fifty occasions, for reconditioning of lines and despite this there are power outages.
In last two months, on several occasions, the taps went dry in municipality and nearby areas due to power failures, informed Water Resources Department (WRD) sources.
Sarpanch, councillors and prominent residents from the taluka informed that during his visits to the taluka, Power Minister Milind Naik had assured to replace the old wires and lay underground cables to improve the power situation in the taluka, but he failed to fulfil his promises.
They also blamed local MLA Ramesh Tawadkar for failing to take any initiative to ensure regular power supply.
The Canacona Community Health Centre is too affected due to constant power failures. Patients are hit the most during dialysis due to constant power cuts, informed Dr Venktesh, incharge of kidney unit. He informed that they are forced to depend on an inverter to power up the dialysis unit.
In the last six months, there electricity department arranged power shutdowns for minor repair works from morning to late evening, causing the hardships to locals and businessmen, informed Ranga Raikar, former CMC chairman.
Speaking to Herald, on the condition of anonymity, a businessman at the Canacona Industrial Estate criticised the government for the staff shortage in the electricity department, poor quality transformers and old overhead wires. Despite repeated demands by businessmen, things have not improved and our business has suffered huge losses, the businessmen added
According to sources, there is a shortage of linesman and assistant linesman in the electricity department.
Besides power cuts, voltage fluctuations are a regular feature, said Mahendra Parit, a laundry owner and complained that his business has been hit due to constant power outages.
Residents complained that their electrical appliances were damaged due to constant voltage fluctuations.
Residents have appealed to the authorities to ensure regular supply.
