MARGAO: A piquant situation has arisen at the Electricity Department Margao with the assistant engineer suo moto deciding not to accept electricity bill payments by cheque if the same are dated after March 26, on grounds that the banks will be closed for a long period of time.
Many people including advocates who went to pay the electricity bills on Tuesday at the Power House Aquem had to make the payment by cash as the electricity department staff refused to accept cheques and people were forced to make payments by cash.
Enquiries with senior officials revealed that the electricity department has not issued any such directive but the move has come from only an Assistant Engineer who apparently issued a press note that was published by some publications and which is being used to browbeat consumers.
Superintending Engineer Reshma Mathew was not even aware of the situation and expressed shock when it was brought to her notice. She then intervened and directed the staff to accept cheque payments as the banks will be closed only on Good Friday, March 30.
