Team Herald
PANJIM The city municipal market plunged into darkness on Tuesday after Electricity Department disconnected power supply over non-payment of dues amounting to Rs five crore.
The present crisis is a result of the alleged failure on the part of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) to pay power dues since the market complex was handed over to them in 2003.
The Panjim market was constructed by the State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) in two different phases in 2003 and 2007, following the demolition of the Portuguese-era structure.
The electricity connection of the passage areas where fruit, vegetable and flower vendors carry on their businesses has been disconnected. Shop owners, who have their individual electricity meters, have not been affected due to the department’s action.
An Electricity Department official said, “Despite several reminders, the Corporation failed to pay the dues, as a result of which we were forced to disconnect the power supply. We are also helpless. We are also losing revenue. Till CCP pays the dues, the power would continue to be disconnected”.
When contacted, CCP Mayor Uday Madkaikar agreed that the Corporation has failed to pay the power bills as they are not in position to recover the arrears from the shopkeepers and vendors due to non-signing of agreement with the legal occupants.
Madkaikar said they would approach Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Power Minister Nilesh Cabral seeking time to pay the bills as well as ask for interest waiver.
“Some of the amount needs to be paid by GSIDC as electricity was used by them for two years during construction phase. We have sought bifurcation from the Electricity Department,” Mayor said.
He said the Corporation would seek financial help from the government to pay certain amount of the power dues.
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Minister threatens to cut power supply to Opa water works
After Mapusa police station and Corporation of City, it now seems to be the turn of Opa water works for disconnection as the Power Minister takes tough stand on defaulters. Minister Nilesh Cabral said that the Opa Water Works owes the Electricity Department Rs 30 crore. “If we are disconnecting the power connections of common man for small amount then how can we spare the government departments crore of rupees?” asked Cabral. He said that the CCP and also the PWD can just do a book transfer through the grant-in-aid they get from the government. “They have to just take a resolution and ask for book transfer,” he said. On CCPs claim that GSIDC should pay the bill, he replied, the GSIDC had handed over the market to CCP years ago. “The market is of CCP, GSIDC just constructed it why should they pay?” he asked.
