the goan I network
MAPUSA
Upset with constant power outages in Siolim, locals on Saturday met the Assistant Engineer and demanded that maintenance of power lines in the village be handed over to Mapusa sub-station.
The residents marched to the officer of electricity department at Agarwado and expressed their ire against power cuts experienced in the village for the last couple of days.
“We did not have power for the whole night on Thursday. Similarly on Friday, the lights went off at 6 pm but was restored on at around 11 pm. Apart from this, power continues to trip during the day time,” said Elvira Fernandes of Siolim.
Consumers have also condemned the attitude of officials in the electricity department who were neither able to resolve the problem nor ready to hear complaints of consumers.
“We have been facing power outages for quite some time but for the last two days it was really bad. The electricity department cannot locate the faults since they do not have enough personnel. The JE neither takes our calls nor tries to resolve the problem,” said Shriganesh Dhargalkar, another local from Siolim.
The locals demanded that the maintenance work of Siolim village, which is presently with the Tuem sub-division, should be handed over to the Mapusa sub-division.
The Assistant Engineer Sharad Chodankar acknowledged that some parts of the village had to go without power two days ago due to snapping of the overhead wires.
He informed that a coconut tree got uprooted and as it fell it brought down some overhead wires.
“There was delay in clearing the tree and that is why people couldn’t get power on Thursday night. The locals were upset because of the incident,” Chodankar said.
He said the villagers demanded that the maintenance of power issue of the Siolim village be shifted to the Mapusa sub-station.
“I will place the demands of the people before the senior officials. It’s up to them to take appropriate decision,”
he said.
