OLD GOA: Assuring to finalise streetlights policy in the upcoming Assembly, Power Minister Nilesh Cabral said his department would take responsibility of maintaining all streetlights in Goa.
“Today, the situation is that it is half-half. If there are 100 streetlights in Goa, only 60 are maintained by electricity department, the rest by PWD, GSUDA, highways, etc. So I am coming out with a streetlight policy, where people will have to pay for the maintenance of the streetlights,” he added.
“So, the State government has told the panchayats to take a policy decision and 55 panchayats have written to me stating that the current policy of the government maintaining the streetlights is good,” Cabral added.
“So, this Assembly session I will finalise a streetlight policy. Then I will write to the panchayats minister to publish a notification asking all panchayats to cancel the streetlight fee in the house tax and people who are consuming electricity of 100 units will have to pay Rs 5 per month for maintenance of street lights.”
“I am going to introduce concept of 5 paise for streetlights and then I will take all responsibility of entire streetlights of Goa,” said Cabral.
“I have already explained to the chief minister and he has agreed to it. Now, the people of Goa have to agree,” he added.
Meanwhile, Cabral came down heavily on some MLAs for making a huge issue regarding increase in FFPCA charges. “It happens all over India, not only in Goa. If we don’t pay FFPCA then we won’t get electricity,” he said.
“In my tenure, there will be no increase in the main tariff. But I will identify the poor and rich consumers, with a focus on helping the poor,” he opined.
Cabral also stated that all LT (Low Tension) lines in the State will be replaced with underground cables in the next 2-3 years.
