PORVORIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant assured the MLAs of Goa Legislative Assembly that the streetlights will be rectified and lit before the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
Sawant extended the assurances after ruling as well as Opposition MLAs united in demanding immediate repair of the streetlights across the State.
A motion on half an hour discussion regarding LED streetlights in the State was moved by Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat, and MLAs Pratapsingh Rane, Luizinho Faleiro, Ramkrishna Dhavalikar, Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, Vijay Sardessai and Churchill Alemao.
Power Minister Nilesh Cabral informed that henceforth the Electricity Department will maintain the streetlights across the State. He informed that the government pays Rs 1 crore annually for the maintenance of the streetlights.
He said, “LED saves electricity however the problem is with the maintenance. We are short closing the tendering process and the department itself will carry out the maintenance.”
Cabral further said that rains have created havoc across the state and Electricity Department has also suffered.
Speaking earlier Digambar Kamat said, “There is no maintenance of the streetlights and with Ganesh Chaturthi approaching, citizens will face major problems if immediate action is not taken on the issue.”
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte said, “Whether call it dog mafia, thieves or gangs, the absence of streetlights are causing lot of inconvenience to citizens. The localities are in the dark through the night.”
Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar said, “While there are issues, people also should become sensible. However, while the roads expansion is being undertaken the erection of streetlights is delayed due to laying of cables which causes lots of problem.”
Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar informed that 166297 LED fixtures have been fixed across the State of which 1889 fixtures not working in Curchorem alone.
“With incessant rains during the last four days there will be many more fixtures which will stop functioning,” he added.
