Team Herald
CUNCOLIM: Irked over the frequent power cuts in the municipal area, Cuncolim residents have now decided to come out on the streets to protest the lethargic attitude of Electricity Department in solving the issue.
They have decided to hold a public meeting on Wednesday to discuss the frequent power failures in the area and the local MLA Clafasio Dias has blamed the electricity department and Government for the prevailing situation and added that he will not hesitate to come on streets and block NH17 along with Cuncolim residents to meet their demands.
The MLA said, “It’s due to the lethargic attitude of electricity department that Cuncolkars are facing regular power cuts for many days. In fact some of the power lines and transformers are worn out and require urgent repairs. Due to increase in power connections, old transformers cannot handle the load that’s the reason for the frequent power failures in Cuncolim.”
“To resolve the issue, the previous BJP-led government on the request of then MLA Rajan Naik had floated tender of Rs 3.5 crore rupees to repair the power lines and to install new transformers. This tender was retendered thrice. The lone bidding company was ready to start the work but the power department failed to commence the same citing technical reasons.
Despite several requests from former BJP MLA, the then BJP power minister failed to solve this problem.
MLA Clafacio Dias said that he has did follow up the matter with the present power minister.
MLA Dias said that he raised the issue in last Assembly Session during Zero Hour and added that the Power Minister had assured him to resolve that issue within a month but failed to keep up to his promise.
Some locals even contacted the power minister and brought the issue to his notice. Cuncolim Civic and Consumer Forum also protested in front of power department.
