The Electricity department had literally ensured that not a single electric pole -- right from Colva to Cavelossim -- would go without a CFL lamp, courtesy the two-day BRICS summit. At many places, the road side electric poles were even whitewashed, while the overhead conductors were guarded to ensure that they do not snap and land on the road during the summit.
the goan I network
MARGAO
But, welcome to the Colva beach square, where illumination is a far cry. While the Electricity department is installing LED lights right up to the Colva Church junction ahead of the Colva Fama scheduled on Monday, the Tourism department has been found wanting in illuminating the beach square, including the high mast lamps, not functioning for months now.
An agitated Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva slammed the Tourism department for ignoring Colva beach square, even demanding the resignation of Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar for the utter neglect of Colva village. He further demanded that Tourism Director Sanjeev Desai leave his chamber and visit Colva beach square, to personally see for himself the neglect of the place.
“It’s the responsibility of the Tourism department to take care of illumination of the beach square, but in vain. The Tourism Minister has completely ignored Colva beach during his tenure. While the Electricity department has installed new fixtures and lamps along the Colva road, the beach square is in darkness for want of illumination by the Tourism department,” Caitu said.
He said the Tourism Minister should have at least woken up from deep slumber and got the Colva beach square illuminated on the eve of the Colva Fama, which draws devotees from every nook and corner of the State.
Incidentally, the Electricity department had installed around 700 new fixtures and CFL lamps right from Colva to Cavelossim ahead of the BRICS summit. Assistant Engineer Santosh Lolienkar informed that the department had installed 100 LED lamps along the Mungul-Green House, Colva road, which is now being extended to the Church junction in view of Monday’s Fama at the Colva Church.
