MAPUSA
For the third day running, many parts of Mapusa were yet to receive power supply even as the engineers and staff of the electricity department were working round the clock to fix the damaged infrastructure caused by cyclone Tauktae.
Acute shortage of manpower and machine has added to the woes of the department officials who are overwhelmed with the damage to the infrastructure.
Very few areas of the town received power on Monday night, while expectations were high that some more areas may receive supply late Tuesday night.
The government functioning came under scrutiny as distraught residents were upset with the slow pace of restoration work carried out by the power department.
“Our houses are in the dark for the last three days. We are unable to pump water to the overhead water tanks. This is a national calamity. Why doesn’t the government rope in the armed forces to clear the fallen trees if there is a shortage of manpower,” asked Zygal Lobo, a resident of Mapusa.
“This government is not worth to remain in power,” he added.
Incidentally, in many areas trees that had fallen on power lines were yet to be cleared by the departments concerned.
“For the last three days, a mango tree that had fallen on the electricity wires is yet to be cleared. Two linemen came, saw the tree and went back, never to return. We cannot sleep without the fans at night. It’s so agonising,” said Sheetal Pednekar of Khorlim-Mapusa.
Some residents slammed the ruling dispensation for playing politics even during a calamity.
“Preference has been given to restore power in areas where BJP councillors are elected while those areas represented by councillors of the opposition panel have been left high and dry,” said Savio Pinto from Khorlim.
The engineers and the staff of the electricity department have been on their toes but a severe manpower crunch is coming in the way to restore supply in quick time.
“We have been working nonstop to organise things and restore supply to the people. But finally, those who are working on the field are humans. With the number of workmen at our disposal, it is just impossible to finish the task at hand,” a senior engineer informed this newspaper.
Cyclone Tauktae that swirled over Goa on Sunday brought down a large number of trees and electricity poles which led to the snapping of power lines all over the State.
In Mapusa, more than 30 electricity poles, a transformer and a 33 KV DP collapsed besides snapping power lines and damaging a number of conductors and insulators.
Many villages in Bardez yet to get supply
The scene in other parts of Bardez was no different as several areas were yet to receive power supply on Tuesday.
Some areas in Calangute and Sinquerim were yet to receive power even as the village of Colvale in Tivim was yet to get supply.
Similarly, several interior villages of the Siolim and Aldona constituency were also yet to receive power supply.
No power at Mapusa health centre
Power was yet to be restored to the Mapusa Urban Health Centre which carries out vaccination programme and other Covid-related works but luckily the centre has a generator.
“We have not got power yet, but we have a generator at our disposal. There is no issue here,” said Dr Cheryl De Souza, Health Officer of Mapusa UHC.
While power was restored at Aldona Primary Health Centre on Monday afternoon, Siolim PHC got power on Tuesday noon. Colvale PHC also received power supply on Monday.
Angry locals march to Mapusa substation
Upset over lack of power for third day in a row, angry residents from Khorlim marched to the substation in Mapusa on Tuesday at around 10.15 pm.
They warned of a law and order problem in Mapusa if power is not restored by Wednesday.
