A brief spell of rain, preceded by some thunder and lightning, was all it took to snap the power supply across Goa. Just as Goans across the State were finishing their dinner on Saturday night, claps of thunder sounded and streaks of lightning lit up the skies. A shower of rain followed and though it cooled down the temperature, bringing some slight relief to the people, it led to more consternation as the power supply went out and remained out for about two hours, even as Electricity Department officials vainly attempted to claim that power had already been restored. It had not been restored.
On Friday almost the entire State was in darkness following the collapse of the Western Grid. Electricity Department officials admitted that the entire State was in darkness, and power was restored in phases by diverting power from other grids. Late Saturday the lights went out again, this time due to the collapse of the 110kv line at Tivim as a result of the unseasonal rains. Electricity Department officials again admitted that many parts of Goa, including the capital city and major towns, were affected. They, however, claimed in vain, that power was restored within 20 minutes, even as various parts of Goa, including areas in the State capital, were without power. The reason that Electricity Department gave for the power failure was ‘the winds and rains and the thunder’.
The power failure is, therefore, an indication of what Goa is in for during the coming monsoon months, when there will be much rain and thunder and wind. Can Electricity Department guarantee that power will not switch off every time it rains and thunders during the coming four months? At the very first spell of rains the power supply blinked badly, demonstrating just how unprepared the Electricity Department is to face the fury of the Goan monsoon. If a spell of rain lasting but a few minutes can throw out the power supply to parts of Goa by over two to three hours, what can Electricity Department do in the coming months?
The Electricity Department in Goa is perhaps the most inefficient of government departments. There are constant and numerous complaints of wrong billing and power failures, which no government or minister has been able to stem. Making a call to the Electricity Department complaint number is of no help, but turns out to be a test of one’s patience. The call is diverted to a call centre, where you are kept on hold and a recorded voice keeps repeating that all executives are busy. When an executive finally does answer, after a few minutes of having kept you waiting, they are unaware of what the problem is, and how to help. With a department that is so clueless about its task, how can one even expect to find any efficiency in it?
Electricity Department needs to be revamped, and it needs to be made efficient. That is the number one change that needs to be brought about in this department. Governance is tested by the quality of the services that the government offers to the people. And Electricity Department fails to meet even the average rank in this. The department plods on, working as if on a trial and error basis, hoping to press the right switch and let the lights come on. There is no planning whatsoever, in the department.
The Electricity Department appears to be groping around in a dark tunnel at the end of which there is no light.
