TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
OLD GOA: The installation of a transformer by a builder along the roadside in Corlim has become a bone of contention between the Corlim Citizens Civic and Consumer Forum (CCCCF) and the Corlim sub station officials with the former alleging that the latter has connived with the panchayat to favour the builder by allowing him to install the transformer in a public place.
CCCCF secretary Baptista Pereira pointed that as per notification in Official Gazette dated July 2012, builders are to install their own transformer in their own place.
“By allowing the builder to install the transformer in a public place, the power officials have violated the law,” Pereira opined while stating that he has now complained to the Chief Electrical Engineer with a copy to the power minister to direct shifting of the transformer from its present location at the earliest.
“The present installation is less than a metre away from the road, posing danger to the public and children playing in the vicinity,” added Pereira and said the land where the transformer is installed belongs to the comunidade and its approval was not sought. However, countering Pereira, Corlim sub station AE Rao said a builder is directed to install transformer in his own property if the power will be exclusively consumed by the builder. “In this case, there will be surplus power, which will be utilized to improve the power of the existing single phase consumers within the vicinity,” Rao informed and added that the consumers can also opt for three-phase connections if they desire.
“Further, the load on the existing panchayat transformer, which provides power to panchayat, Corlim health centre and Corlim Church, will also be reduced considerably,” Rao said and stated that the transformer will not only benefit the builder but the public as well.
Rao said the department has already taken an undertaking from the builder that after the transformer is charged, the department will own the transformer, maintain it and will be free to release connections to the public.
“There is also a provision to enhance the transformer to meet future requirements of the village,” Rao said and stated that he fails to understand why CCCCF secretary Pereira complains to the media when he did not raise any objection after the department had clarified on his earlier queries.
“We had already clarified on the points raised by CCCCF chairman Alexander Gomes and CCCCF secretary, in separate replies, and we did not receive any further complaints from them,” Rao informed and questioned why only Pereira is objecting to the transformer when the villagers within the vicinity have shown eagerness to benefit from it.
When contacted, Corlim deputy Sarpanch Victor Pereira was also highly critical of Baptist Pereira and alleged, “He is opposing any moves undertaken by the panchayat to benefit the villagers to avenge the defeat he suffered at my hands during the panchayat polls.”
“Before the installation of the transformer, I had personally inquired with the two households located within the vicinity whether they have any objection and they had not raised any objections,” Victor said.
“If the village benefits at the cost of the builders, then why should the panchayat not take advantage?” Victor further opined.
On the point raised that the transformer will pose threat to the children who are playing nearby, Victor pooh-poohed the claim and informed that this statement is made only to mislead the media. “The children from the vicinity play at the panchayat playground,” Victor added.
Victor further chided the claim made by his rival that the land belongs to the comunidade. “The transformer is installed along the setback of the PWD road and it is government land,” added Pereira.
