TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: As the Goa Medical College limped back to normalcy after almost two days without power and consequent lack of water, the blame game between the health and the power departments came to the fore.
Health Minister Laxmikant Parsekar denied that a panel blew up forcing the GMC to rely on generator power and doctors to postpone routine operations and only carry out emergency ones. He also denied that there was shortage of water, on Thursday.
However, doctors say that OPDs and casualty were running under difficult circumstances.
On the receiving end, the electricity department, in a communiqué issued said that power interruption that had occurred since July 7morning had caused great inconvenience and this was the fault in the substation which is not maintained.
“It is pertinent to note that many a times Electricity Department receives backlashes for no fault of theirs. Power Minister Milind Naik understanding the criticality of matter immediately directed all senior engineers to rush to the Goa Medical College and provide all sorts of man and material assistance to restore the power supply on war footing,” says T A Vargese of the electricity department.
Goa Medical College has its own substation which steps up 33 kv to 440 volts and then supplies to all the buildings within the medical college complex. The moment the 33 kv line of enters the substation, responsibility of power supply shifts to the medical college. Public Works Department division IV with the help of its sub division V located at Bambolim used to maintain the sub station but almost one year ago they handed over the said substation located within the premises of the medical college to different agency, the Electricity Department said.
GMC officials confirmed that power was restored Friday even as they say that all emergency services including casualty was operational and the OPDs too functioned.
According to the Electricity Department, being a 33 kv consumer, GMC is supplied very reliable power by underground cable starting from Bambolim substation. Knowing the critical nature of medical college activities, the department takes utmost care to keep the power supply uninterrupted as far as possible. Even in case of major breakdowns restrictions are put on other areas but never on Goa Medical College supply.
There are two number 400 sq mm cables running parallel, covering a distance of 1 km from Bambolim substation to GMC. It is important to note out of these one is a back up cable, in case the other has any fault, said the official.
Rs 10k fine imposed on hospital
PANJIM: The PNDT advisory committee decided to impose a penalty of Rs 10,000 on Vrundavan Shalby Hospital for its irregularities under section 23 of the PC-PNDT Act. An inspection was conducted and show cause notices were issued to the hospital. However, they were found not to have complied with the act.
The meeting also decided to issue a show cause notice to Goa Scan Centre, Porvorim for non submission of Form ‘F’ and send final show cause notices to St Anthony Hospital and Gomantak Ayurveda Clinic giving them seven day’s time to submit ‘F’ forms regularly. In case, the forms are not received within the stipulated time, the operation of the clinics can be placed under the temporary suspension with immediate effect.
Proposals received from various clinics for setting up of USG machines, renewal of licenses and related other issues were discussed at the meeting.
