The Legislative Assembly session resumed after the weekend break to an interesting debate on power. Calangute MLA Michael Lobo made an impassioned plea on behalf of Bardez highlighting the distressful conditions people of the constituencies are facing in the wake of consistent power cuts. Lobo sought answers from Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on why a tender for a sub-station has been cancelled and sought to know how the government plans to proceed in addressing the electricity supply problems of the area.
Interestingly, Lobo has been part of the cabinet that decided on the cancellation of the tender of the sub-station in question, and it surprises that the Calangute MLA is seeking accountability for a decision taken at a time when he was part of the government. Is he trying to expose the failure of the previous regime, or is this an attempt to prove his credentials in the Opposition? The electricity issues faced by Bardez are not new, and Lobo's presentation before the House is something that has been blatantly ignored over the years. Lobo instead of raising cudgels now was in a far better position when he was in the cabinet and a senior minister in the government.
In response, the Power Minister has agreed to re-float the tender for the Saligao sub-station within three months and cited the panchayat election code for the delay. He also spoke on plans to bring 10 MW of power from Bicholim to tide over the situation temporarily. The question is why were these measures not acted upon in the wake of the grim situation in the summer months. Saligao MLA Kedar Naik has gone on record stating that a day of uninterrupted power is seen as something “unusual” in his constituency, which sums up the sorry state of affairs.
Dhavalikar, and successive power ministers, have made positive statements on improving electricity supply, but there has been no change on the ground. Sixty years into Goa's liberation and the State is still fighting for a normal power supply. The power minister has told the House that the Tivim sub-station installed in 1970 needs repair. He has also raised the argument of increased power consumption. There may be even more reasons to justify the pathetic and irregular supply. However, it is the job of the power minister to strike a balance and work out ways to optimise resources, not find reasons to explain the mess we are in.
On the issue of power usage by industrial establishments, the power minister stated that the government proposed Rs 1600 crore works with the central power ministry that will ramp up projects in the State but was caught on the wrong foot when questioned over the release of new commercial connections against an existing shortage of industrial power. It is ridiculous that the power minister has shirked responsibility while admitting that those files don’t come to him.
While Dhavalikar has managed to wriggle out of a crucial issue by mixing up plans and deadlines to good effect, it must be borne in mind that similar promises made when he was the PWD minister never saw the light of the day. Decades later, Goa is still to get uninterrupted water, and even when the State is witnessing floods, there are many areas that are thirsting for potable water.
It’s time ministers stop giving deadlines and unveiling ambitious plans that are buttressed by high financial numbers. All the common citizen needs at the end of the day is delivery, which is missing for now.
