TEAM HERALD
CORTALIM: Forget about the living, the erratic power supply is now beginning to affect even the deceased in Cortalim.
Residents from Maddant and nearby areas in Cortalim have been facing power crisis for more than 15 days, with electrical appliances and other electricity-dependent equipment virtually becoming unusable especially during the evening hours.
Last week, the family of a deceased person at Alma Bhat went through tense moments after the power for the mobile mortuary unit started tripping due to low voltage.
“After the power for the mortuary began tripping, I immediately informed the Verna sub-station and the officials there immediately increased the voltage. It was only then that the mortuary started functioning normally,” said ward Panch Raymond De Sa.
“This only proves that the adequate flow of voltage can be released, but it is deliberately not being done. We are now again facing low voltage. The ACs fail to function specially between 6 pm and 12 midnight, while fans sometimes struggle to function,” De Sa informed.
Another resident, Frazer Barreto, told Herald that he had taken his induction cooker for repairs in Vasco, since it was not functioning.
“When it was tested at the service shop, it started functioning and then I realised that the low voltage was the cause of the problem,” Baretto told Herald.
Assistant Engineer Manu, said he was not aware of the problem and that he would instruct his junior engineer to look into the matter.
Admitting that he was informed by his superiors, JE Bhat told Herald that he would test the voltage on Monday night and accordingly, inform the Verna sub-station to release adequate voltage to the areas affected.
Later in the evening, Manu informed Herald that a test had confirmed that power supply at the transformer was normal, but admitted that power was dropping in the supply line.
“The voltage was also checked at De Sa’s house and it was found that the voltage was low. On Tuesday, I will direct the linesmen to check and repair the joints and the conductors to ensure the voltage does not drop,” Manu informed.
