Electricity Dept’s “power trip” shocks Colva residents

Villagers smell a scam as Electricity Dept staffers refuse to return to them the lengths of expensive cables they were forced to purchase a few years ago
Electricity Dept’s “power trip” shocks Colva residents
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Team Herald

MARGAO: A dispute has erupted in Colva over the fate of expensive power cables that residents were required to purchase for three-phase connections, as the Electricity Department undertakes infrastructure modifications in the coastal village.

Local residents report that around three to four years ago, they were asked to purchase their own power cables, at significant personal expense, to establish three-phase connections. This was because the main power supply was a considerable distance away from the houses. These cables, costing between Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per household, were required in addition to a standard security deposit of Rs 10,000.

The controversy has emerged as the Electricity Department has now moved junction boxes and poles closer to residential properties, reportedly in preparation for potential road widening. During this process, the department has cut and retained the excess cables that residents had previously purchased.

“When the main supply was 90 metres away, we were asked to buy a 100-metre cable,” said one affected resident. “Now that they’ve brought the wires closer, they’ve cut about 70 metres of our cable, and the supervisor refuses to return it, claiming they need to show these cables at the department as proof of replacement with high-tension metal cables.”

The excess cables belonging to several people in the neighbourhood were collected and taken away by the department staff on Thursday.

Residents are questioning both the initial requirement to purchase the cables and the department’s current refusal to return the unused portions. When approached for comment, the Junior Engineer of the Electricity Department said he would need to investigate the matter and promised to respond within a week.

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