Residents of Sarzora village have raised concerns about the risk the low hanging overhead cables pose to the locals and their property. In addition, locals attribute the constant power fluctuations to the cables and are upset that the despite promises the same is yet to be replaced.
“These wires have been hanging in our village Sarzora for the last so many decades and the wires have not been touched. The situation is particularly worse in Sarzora,” said Sarzora resident Vincent Carvalho.
Carvalho also claimed that they are extremely dangerous as they are within the distance of touching vehicles.
“On the mini district highway nowadays we see many heavy and high vehicles. Many people, including myself, have witnessed the vehicles touching the overhanging cables and the fuses blown off on the electricity transformers. If somebody has to visit this place, it will be obvious that it needs urgent attention,” added Carvalho.
Locals further complained that the monsoons and strong rains had caused further power fluctuation problems in the village.
It may be recalled that the Velim MLA Benjamin Silva had stated that the delay for the work of replacing overhead lines was due to no takers despite the project being tendered thrice. Benjamin had recently stated to media persons that one contractor finally bid for the work, which will commence shortly. Benjamin had added that the government had even sought land from the Sarzora comunidade for a substation at Sarzora, which has been dependent on Cuncolim and Velim sub-stations.
It is to be noted that the power shortage and fluctuation issues have been experienced in other villages of Velim especially in the monsoons.