MAPUSA
Two legislators of the ruling BJP took the government to task for failing to accomplish power-related works in their constituencies, some of which have remained pending for years.
The functioning of the power department engineers also came under criticism from the MLAs.
“Well-heeled non-Goans get power-related work done within 10 days but projects meant for Goans remain pending for three years,” complained Dayanand Sopte, Mandrem MLA.
Raising the issue during the Question Hour, the Mandrem MLA said a demand for a substation for people of Mandrem has been lying pending for the last three years but a well-placed non-Goan could easily sort out his demand for extra load within days.
He said the tender for the Mandrem project was issued after good two-and-half years but after opening the tender it was cancelled for reasons best known to the department.
He further disclosed that a private company that had applied for increase in load on August 11, 2020, got it sanctioned by the department within 10 days on August 21, 2020.
“People in Mandrem have been facing problems due to erratic power supply for the last so many years, but an outsider gets his work done within days. Strict action should be taken against the department head,” Sopte said.
He said people of Tiracol were at the mercy of the Maharashtra government as they get supply from the neighbouring state even as Goa keeps on delaying projects meant for the public.
Censuring the engineers of the power department, St Andre MLA Francisco Silveira said people of his constituency received irregular power supply and sometimes the power cuts lasted for four to five hours.
“At several places, conductors are bent, poles have been damaged and street lights have not been functioning. Tenders that have been issued have been cancelled. How are we going to face the people?” Silveira asked.
Assuring to look into the issues raised by the MLAs, Power Minister Nilesh Cabral assured to float tenders within the next 15 days. He also informed that private companies get their work done on priority only because they bear all the expenses for the project.
“The department only acts as a facilitator for projects applied by private companies. All the expenses are borne by the party concerned,” Cabral explained.
