the goan I network
MARGAO
Damaged electric poles “ which have been awaiting replacement for the last several months now “ sums up the power woes that has hit the tourist village of Betalbatim in recent times.
A local resident Dunstan D’Costa has expressed fears that the damaged live wire electric poles at Binvaddo-Betalbatim may cause a disaster and loss of property and human life as vehicles and pedestrians cross the busy road. What has taken aback Dunstan and other local residents is that the damaged poles have not been replaced despite the fact that new poles were dumped at the spot a couple of months ago ostensibly for want of manpower and machinery.
Incidentally, the Electricity department approached the local Betalbatim village panchayat on Monday to foot the bill for the replacement of the damaged poles as hire charges for the crane that
has been requisitioned by the department.
Sarpanch Constancio Miranda told The Goan that the power officials have requested the panchayat to bear the crane charges, which works out to around Rs 6,000 as the department has drawn up plans to finally replace the six damaged poles in the village.
The sarpanch pointed out that Betalbatim village has been facing power woes over the last several months, pointing out that there’s no one around to even repair the non-functioning LED lamps in the village. “Even for minor spares and works, the Electricity department has been found wanting in getting the replacements. The panchayat on several occasions had gone out of the way to assist the Power department in public interest,” the Sarpanch said, while making a plea to the newly-appointed Power Minister Nilesh Cabral to get his power officials to act and resolve the power woes facing the coastal village.
Dunstan pointed out that despite several reminders by the local villagers and inspection of the damaged poles by the officials, the ground reality has remained unchanged. “We do not understand whether the authorities wait for a tragedy to occur before replacing the damaged poles. The authorities should wake up before it is too late,” he added.
