Frequent power cuts: Madkaikar blows fuse on Bicholim officials

BICHOLIM r rIt may be recalled that there had been frequent disruption in power supply in Bicholim taluka and the common man was put to hardship. People from Bicholim had apprised Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar in this regard, who updated Madkaikar about the issue. rFollowing public outcry, Madkaikar visited the Bicholim electricity office on Friday. He was accompanied by around 40 locals including the members of Bicholim Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). rThe locals complained to the minister about erratic power supply and frequent power cuts in the taluka and requested to solve the problem permanently. rIDC Bicholim chairman Shivshankar Zirge brought to the notice of the minister that once the power cut occurs it takes about three hours to restore the same as a result of which business in industrial units comes to a standstill. rAfter listening to the grievances, Madkaikar sought to know from the officials the reason for such frequent power outages. However, the officials failed to give satisfactory reply and the power minister took the officials to task and instructed them to solve the problem. rMadkaikar also informed about a novel technique ‘aerial bunch cabling system’ by way of which rpower cables will be tied together and covered with safe plastic coating. rWhen the residents apprised the minister about improper services provided by some banks for accepting electricity bills, Madkaikar said there is a problem as the department has not paid commission to the banking counters and it is pending. rHowever, the issue was sorted out when Bicholim Municipal Council Chairperson Satish Gaonkar assured to open a counter at BMC office and also demanded rBicholim electricity department authorities to open another counter at Bicholim electricity office to accept the electricity bills. rMadkaikar informed that government has decided to set up new power substation at Sal-Bicholim to solve the power problems in remote areas and the tendering process is in progress.