Gross misuse of Health Act
Citizen Jose A Afonso, Margao
It is most unfortunate that the authority vested with the Margão Municipal Council to issue NOC to the Electricity Department for release of electricity under Section 94 (A) of the Goa Public Health Act has been misused by the Technical Section. The NOCs are often issued without the mandatory site inspections, or by swearing a false affidavit which encourages illegalities and encroachments which are the order of the day in the Margão City.
The EPIC Card, ration card and the affidavit which are required for obtaining the NOC are not properly scrutinized by the Technical Section for the identity of the applicant, correct address, exact location of the site and the truthfulness of the affidavit sworn.
Even after bringing to the notice of the municipal authorities to the NOCs issued by swearing false affidavits and proving with documents that the new construction is illegal, the technical section has failed to revoke the NOC and initiate action against the encroachers.
At a meeting held on 12 February, 2014 the Margão Municipality Councilors accused the Municipal Technical Section for earning a bad name to the Council from the citizens for harassment and extortion.
It is time the new municipal chief officer take a note and keep a record of all the complaints addressed to him and see that complaints are resolved within a stipulated time and keep a close watch on the functioning of the Technical Section which has earned a bad name for the Council.
A ‘power’ less Vascoite
Citizen Praveen Varghese, Vasco
I have a small business in Vasco, which sadly is the darkest township in Goa most of the days. Often I wonder what maintenance work the Electricity Department undertakes throughout the year. I also scout around for the many trees felled by them to ensure uninterrupted power supply to Vasco — home to the Indian Railways, Goa Airport, MPT, IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, ZACL etc along with numerous small time shops that don’t and can’t function without electricity which is ‘omni-absent’ and suffer a lot of loss in business. Almost every businessman and residences alike who are rich enough have installed heavy duty DG sets/inverters. To cope with the heat due to power failure, shopkeepers, vendors and buyers alike stand outside the shops for fresh air. The irony is that in spite of contributing a substantial chunk to the state treasury in the form of taxes and the power minister hailing from Vasco itself, there is a complete apathy and indifference towards the poor power supply to Vasco city. Many electricity department employees have informed us about the poor quality of electrical equipment used in Vasco city. We, Vascoites in unison earnestly appeal to our CM, to intervene and provide a solution by expediting underground cabling of Vasco and its suburbs using premium quality electrical equipment.
As uttered in the movie “Spiderman”- “With great power comes great responsibility”. Kindly use the power vested in you by “We the people” to supply power to Vasco.
Finish ‘pre’ monsoon
works
Citizen Pravin Sardessai, Adpai
Although the state administration had set the deadline for completing pre-monsoon works May 31, the Durbhat panchayat failed on the deadline. As on Monday, June 16, drains and nullahs in its jurisdiction were found to be unattended. Even the acting Sarpanch has not viewed this matter with the seriousness it deserves. There are many such problems that need immediate attention. On Sunday, June 15, taps went dry during daytime. Even there was interrupted power supply during major part of the day. Also streetlights at ‘Dessai Bhat’ area are found non-working on most occasions during the night. If the elected representatives do not feel the pulse of the local population, then why are they being elected?
The Directorate of Panchayats should not rely merely on reports submitted by the panchayats but to practically depute its officials to the respective jurisdictions to get acquainted with the existing situation in the villages. Panchayats which fail to carry out pre-monsoon work at the appropriate time must be dealt with a firm hand without any discrimination. Residents must be assured hygienic conditions at all costs.
