MARGAO: The frequent and prolonged power outages that are occurring in Salcete without any warning have made life difficult for residents of the taluka who are worried about what will happen once the monsoon starts. “How are we supposed to run our businesses or even lead a normal life when the power keeps going off every few hours?” said Cristovao Barretto, who works at a cold storage store. The situation had been particularly dire in the past few weeks, with some areas experiencing outages every few hours, and in some cases, outages that lasted for several hours. The frequent disruptions not only caused discomfort due to the sweltering heat, but also raised concerns about damage to electrical appliances due to sudden power surges or fluctuations. “I had to get my refrigerator repaired a few days ago. The constant power cuts and voltage fluctuations seem to have taken a toll on it. This is a recurring expense that many of us can ill afford,” lamented Anjali Desai, a homemaker. Adding to the residents’ frustration was that this is taking place after the recent planned power shut down for maintenance work, and that there have been even more frequent outages in its wake. “They claim it was necessary for maintenance, but we’ve been facing even more power cuts since then. It’s like the situation has become worse instead of better,” said senior citizen Peter Rodrigues. “If the power cuts continue during the monsoon, it could become a serious safety issue, especially for the elderly and children,” added Reema Naik, a teacher who is worried about what happens when she is not at home. The residents hoped that the authorities would take swift action to address the problem and ensure a reliable and consistent power supply, especially in the face of the impending rainy season.
Frequent, unannounced power-cuts leave Margao locals fuming
