A local Babani Mandrekar said, “Whenever the consumers try to contact the local office, the staff puts down the receiver. The consumer has no idea what has happened or when the electricity will return.”
Junior Engineer Shivam Madkaikar informed that Chorao got its electricity from Tivim and Virdi-Amona sub-station via Bicholim. Whenever that station had problems, Chorao too would be affected. Getting the problems fixed was out of his hands.
He added, “A number of trees and branches fall on the wires, and it stops the electricity supply. The last few days, rain and wind has led to the frequent power outages on the island. Chorao island is the end point, and this is also a cause.” He assured that the situation would improve.
Regarding the allegations of staff not attending to calls, he said, “The staff is less at the moment. We have demanded mobiles for office use so that in case of an emergency we can reply at any time from any place.”
Social activist from Kerem-Chorao Ashwin Chodankar said, “The electricity department and government should give the service as it is an essential service. They charge heavily from the customers, so they cannot neglect them. They act like this since they have monopoly. It is the duty of the department to provide good services. The consumers have to take a morcha before the department pays attention to this serious problem.”
