FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: The Goa Electricity Employees’ Union on Saturday demanded Rs 50 lakh as compensation for the families of the deceased and Rs 20 lakh for the staff, who sustained injuries that rendered them disabled in the recent accident involving a department truck near the Borim Circle.
The Union has demanded an inquiry into the repairs of the government vehicles that are done by dealerships at their garages.
Members Raju Mangeshkar, Carlos Faleiro and others addressed press conference highlighting the troubles of the accident survivors and the families of the deceased.
"We have been asking the department to take steps to prevent accidents. The vehicles that they use are very old and ill-maintained. The vehicles that are sent to the garages are not repaired, but washed and sent back without repairs, which is mere eyewash," Mangeshkar alleged.
"The Chief Minister has to check all the PWD and Electricity vehicles. An inquiry has to be conducted on how the vehicles are repaired. Appoint a committee to inquire into this and check whether the vehicles are repaired or not," the Union demanded.
"A 27-year-old has died. The minister said he will give Rs 7 lakh and job to the family member. The Government of Goa has to give Rs 50 lakh compensation to the families and Rs 20 lakh to those, who sustained injuries that rendered them disabled in the accident," it further demanded.
"This is the negligence of department and the engineer at Ponda who we say is responsible," Mangeshkar claimed.
"Workers were sitting in the truck cab. Today, we publicly appeal to the workers not to travel in this manner in vehicles and just aid in loading the vehicles. Scrap the 30-40 year-old vehicles," he said.
On the affairs of the department, the Union said, “Today any employee is asked to do any work. The minister is only giving assurances to hold meeting with us and not doing anything for us. Improvement has to happen, we just cannot ignore the accident," the members added.
