MAPUSA
The electricity department sanctioned 1,500 street lights to Calangute village fulfilling the local panchayat’s long pending demand and bringing much relief to the coastal village.
While the village panchayat made a claim of 3,000 street lights, the department agreed to allot half of the requirement and assured to release the balance within the next three months.
Chief Electrical Engineer Stephen Fernandes sanctioned the street lights during the recent interaction with the Calangute panchayat members and the villagers over power cuts.
“We do not want the village to remain in the dark. I have asked the department to immediately release 1,500 street lights to Calangute. Depending on the availability, we will release the next lot of requirements,” Fernandes said.
Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequiera informed that the village required over 3,000 street lights.
“Ours was the only panchayat which was denied street lights for the last several years. I don’t know why we were receiving this step-motherly treatment,” Sequeira said.
He disclosed that earlier the panchayat would purchase the street lights that were required in the village and accordingly charge the residents for the facility.
He further informed that the panchayat wanted to erect two high mast lamps “ one near Bodkovod and another near the police station “ in the village but was not receiving cooperation from the electricity department.
“We had written to the electricity department about the requirement but it is unable to float tenders for the high mast lamps due to some technical issues,” the sarpanch said.
He said the panchayat will have to find some other ways to erect the highmast lamps.
Meanwhile, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (GTDC) had erected fancy street lamps from the Calangute Association hall up to Calangute beach but the lamps were not working for almost a year.
Six months back the Calangute panchayat had written to the Tourism Department and the GTDC to repair the streetlights and a high mast lamp at the Calangute Association junction.
“Calangute is a tourist destination but the tourism department has been neglecting the coastal village when it comes to illumination of public roads and public places. We have written to the tourism department and the GTDC but so far haven’t received any positive indication,” the sarpanch said.
