PRATIK PARAB
pratik@herald-goa.com
The Meeting of the Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar with the MLAs of Margao, Navelim and Fatorda have revealed the sorry state of affairs of the Electricity Department.
The meeting, attended by the Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai and Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro discussed some common complaints which have not been addressed for years. The MLAs of these constituencies have apprised the Minister of all the major pending demands they have regarding the supply of electricity.
The bottlenecks of land availability for sub stations, execution of underground cabling in necessary connecting areas, problems of staffs at stations and other technical problems were discussed threadbare and were sought solution during the meeting.
While explaining the problems of electricity pertaining to the Fatorda Constituency, MLA Vijai Sardesai said that the 5th feeder is the only portion where underground cabling has not happened and has been causing hardships. Vijai further told “Make sure you put up a good public problem redressal system for solution of power cuts in all the areas.”
Vijai also raised the issue of the absence of fault detection machine for underground cables, crane, fork-lift for the repairs of street lights. In reply to the same the Executive Engineer of the division told “We have already instructed for re tender of the absent underground cabling at feeder number 5. Eighty per cent underground work is complete in Fatorda. The remaining work is estimated around Rs 23 crores and will be re-tendered soon,” said the Executive Engineer of the division.
The Margao MLA, Digambar Kamat, said that Margao needs 5 transformers over all as some are outdated and some new ones have to be added. The concerned EE told that 5 transformers have been ordered but are yet to arrive. Digambar said, “Two transformers in Margao are overloaded and we need new ones there. In addition to that there is a tremendous shortage of staff in Margao. There is a need for Junior Engineers, station operator and others.”
The Navelim MLA, Luizinho Faleiro, congratulating the Minister said that the meeting was very timely. “I have been going around the constituency. The infrastructure is the same for the last 10 years. We have been seeing power cut off several times a day. It has also been observed that we are not in a position to buy ordinary conductors which is sad,” MLA said. Luizinho also demanded a separate sub-station in Navelim. Replying to this the minister sought the help of MLA to cite a land for the same so that they can shift the sub-station. MLA Luizinho has readily agreed to see a site and do the needful for the sub-station.
