TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: Power Minister, Milind Naik has said that the power department would take care of street light illumination in the future, even as he promised to complete Margao’s underground cabling project within a short period of time.
The Power Minister was in Margao to attend and address power grievances raised by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and his Fatorda counterpart Vijai Sardessai at the Aquem Power House on Saturday.
“I am the state’s Power Minister. Whenever any street light is not functioning or is out of order, I am being blamed for the situation. We have now decided not to give the fixtures to anyone, but to look after the repairs and maintenance departmentally”, he told newsmen after a meeting with the two MLAs and power officials.
He pointed out that the department was following a practice to provide fixtures and lamps during festive occasions such as Ganesh Chathurti, Diwali and Christmas. “But, the ground reality shows that fixtures and lamps are required round the year. Henceforth, the department would provide the fixtures round the year”, he added.
On the lack of uniformity of the functioning of the street lights, Naik said that it has come to light that the department has procured around 50 different brands of fixtures.
“This may be the reason why there’s no uniformity in the quality. Let the huge stock of fixtures get over before we go for new purchases”, he added.
Replying to a question, the Power Minister said he has issued time frame to his department officials to complete pending works in Margao. He said that around 75-80 per cent of underground cabling stands completed in Margao, while promising to complete the balance work within the shortest possible time.
