the goan I network
VASCO
Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar on Saturday assured that these old wires will be replaced and transformers will be upgraded sometime before July 2018.
Madkaikar was speaking while attending to public grievances at the Cortalim panchayat hall. The meeting was convened at the request of Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha, who had invited Madkaikar to address the electricity-related grievances in the constituency.
Sarpanchas from all five panchayats of Cortalim, Sancoale, Quelossim, Cansaulim and Velsao-Pale-Issorcim in Cortalim constituency were present at the meeting.
Several issues regarding power supply were addressed and prominent among them was the absence of a full-time junior engineer at Cortalim/Sancoale sub-station and poor maintenance of several high and low tension wires.
Residents also complained of daily power cuts during rains and also informed the power minister that Sancoale section office had no staff after 7 pm, while the staff in the day were not responsive to public grievances.
Some complained that many areas of Cortalim constituency were in total darkness as LED street lights at many places were not working, while
many other areas did not have LED street lights.
Cortalim Sarpanch Senia Pereira informed Madkaikar that department officials were requesting local panchas to provide wires and other related equipment, adding that the earlier panchayat body used to store spare light fixtures to be installed as and when required.
Responding to their grievances, Madkaikar also informed that many of the high and low tension wires in Cortalim constituency were as old as 60 years.
"I have directed the assistant engineer to prepare estimates for new high and low tension wires, as well as estimates to upgrade old transformers in Cortalim Constituency. All HT and LT wires will be changed and all transformers will be upgraded within the next 6-9 months " informed Madkaikar.
"I don't know why Cortalim constituency has been neglected by the power department for so long in the past, but this will not continue and I will take strong action if any staff continues to ask for materials from public or panchas or misbehave with the public while on duty," added Madkaikar.
Madkaikar also informed that around 1,66,000 LED street lights were installed across Goa and about 4,000 LED street lights had malfunctioned.
"The power department is already working on replacing the faulty LED fixtures and work to install LED streelights across Goa is in full speed. Those areas where LED street lights are yet to be installed will be covered within three months," said Madkaikar.
The minister later directed the assistant engineer and other officials present at the meeting to note down all public grievances and assured to resolve power-related problems faced by people from Cortalim constituency.
