MARGAO
Power Minister Nilesh Cabral on Tuesday promised to renovate and improve the Low Tension lines along Salcete coastal belt by May 31, promising the village panchayats along the belt to address all power issues plaguing the area.
Accompanied by Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, the Power Minister hopped from one village to another, beginning from Seraulim before ending his tour in Cavelossim village, as he tried to understand the power issues staring the belt.
Cabral promised to inquire and initiate action against the line staff and effect immediate replacement of the erring officials, as he came across complaints of lethargy of the field staff in the villages.
Taking cognizance of the complaints on the malfunctioning street lights, the Power Minister said all issues relating LED street lighting will be addressed by March 31.
Panchayat members drew the attention of the Power Minister to a range of issues, from non-functioning street lights to broken poles and voltage fluctuations.
Taking note of the breakdown of Low Tension lines along the coastal belt, disrupting power supply, the Minister said the department will take up the work of renovation and replacement of the ageing LT lines by May 31.
When the Minister descended at Cavelossim, he made an appeal to the tourist guest house owners to go for the LTC if they are still taking domestic connections. “I appeal to the guest house owners to give just one application and will shift the domestic connection to LTC without payment of any minimum charges,” he said, while warning that those who default to do so may receive backdated charges.
The Power Minister made a fervent plea to the consumers to lodge their complaints on the toll free No 1912 to enable the department to monitor and work out a permanent solution.
Given that the department had carried out estimates for the laying of the underground line, Cabral also requested local MLA Churchill Alemao to take up the work with the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for financial sanction.
Churchill later said he has full confidence in the Power Minister that he would bring about a turnaround in the power situation in the coastal belt in the near future. “The Power Minister has set deadlines to rectify the problems. I am confident that all the issues will be resolved as per the time frame set by the Minister,” he added.
