Team Herald
CUNCOLIM: Eight high mast lamps, a thousand-odd newly fitted LED streetlights and various other illumination lights dot Cuncolim, yet the town is in darkness these days.
The LED streetlights were installed under a Central government scheme just before the February 4 Assembly elections. And the town shined bright on the Election Day. But within a month after the elections, many of the newly fitted LED streetlights are out of order.
The entire stretch of National Highway NH17 from Panzorconi to Cuncolim bus stand is in dark as not a single streetlight along this stretch is functioning.
When asked why the Cuncolim town is in dark despite there being a thousand-odd streetlights and eight high mast lamps, electricity officials said that the maintenance of the streetlights has been handed over to a private contractor who has failed to repair the streetlights.
The most pitiable of all the high mast lamps is the one inaugurated by MP Shantaram Naik, as it stopped functioning from very next day of its inauguration.
Former MLA Joaquin Alemao had installed fancy lamps along the stretch of road from Cuncolim to Sanvorcoto as a part of a beautification project, but sadly, they have become only a show piece.
Herald investigation has revealed that non-payment of electric bills has plunged the Cuncolim town in dark. Neither the Cuncolim municipality nor any other government agency is willing to foot the power bills of high mast and streetlights.
