That’s not all. The power department has been found wanting in making the payments to the pick up van contractors engaged by the department to attend grievances.
Indeed, Power Minister Milind Naik’s electricity department has come under the scanner of the constituents of Benaulim as manpower shortage and vehicles have hit the functioning of the Benaulim and Colva electricity offices.
An exasperated Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva slammed the government, especially the power department, for the prevailing situation in Benaulim. “I am literally tired with the power department in not deputing a junior engineer to monitor the Rs 87 crore underground cabling work. It is surprising that work of such a huge magnitude is not being monitored by a dedicated junior engineer,” Caitu said.
Herald inquiries have revealed that the entire coastal belt, spanning from Cavelossim to Carmona, Orlim, Varca, Benaulim and Colva is being looked after by only two junior engineers. Presently, there’s no junior engineer to man the Colva electricity division, while the two junior engineers posted at Benaulim and Carmona sub-stations also hold additional charge of the sub division offices.
“Electricity department functioning has almost collapsed in Benaulim constituency. Plea to draft additional junior engineers have fallen on deaf ears. Even the pick-up van, which was hired by the department, has not been paid for months together,” Caitu said.
When Herald contacted Executive Engineer Santosh Lolienkar to shed light on the matter, he said that the department is required to comply with the procedure before making the payments. He, however, admitted that the Benaulim constituency is hit by manpower shortage which is being addressed by the department.
