MARGAO
Ahead of the ensuing monsoons and the major planned power shutdown scheduled on June 2, Chief Electrical Engineer Stephen Fernandes on Wednesday descended at the Aquem Power House, Margao to check the monsoon preparedness and other issues facing the department.
The CEE was holed up with senior Power officials from the Margao Division as he took stock of the ongoing monsoon preparedness and how to address the issues facing the public on the power front.
He later told The Goan that he held discussions with power officials to check the monsoon preparedness as per the announcement made by Power Minister Sudin Dhavlikar. “The Power department is gearing up for the coming monsoons. We have planned a major power shut down on June 2. We have discussed with the power engineers about the shut down and the work that needs to be done on that day”, he said.
Saying that around 80-85 per cent the monsoon preparedness work stands completed, Stephen said the balance work will be completed in the next few days. “Our workers are on the job to trim the branches of trees leaning on the overhead wires. There are instances wherein we have to seek permission of the Forest department to trim even heavy branches. The work is going on in full swing. We expect to complete the work well before the monsoons sets in the state”, he added.
The CEE also visited the MRT building complete to review the ongoing work with the architect and the PWD engineer. He also visited the lab in the Aquem Power house complete to take stock of the work of repairs of power transformers.
He also had a meeting with the engineers how to go about resolving the issues and consumer complaints within minimum time. He also took stock of the excess staff in the divisions.
To a question on power boxes found open at many places, he said there is a proposal to replace the electrical boxes. He, however said the department will attend to complaints from consumers if any electrical box is found open, and posing danger to the public.
