CANACONA
Demanding an enquiry into lengthy power shutdowns during Hindu festivals and amid the impending heat wave, Congress leader Janardhan Bhandari claims his concerns before the Chief Electrical Engineer (CEE) on Thursday led to the postponement of a scheduled power shutdown in South Goa on March 11.
“Due to my personal intervention with CEE Stephen Fernandes, he consulted Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar to defer/postpone the scheduled power shutdown in South Goa on Saturday till Shigmo festival gets over,” said Bhandari.
“The CEE instructed the SE-Circle I-South Goa to issue a notification to bring the same to the notice of the public/people,” said, Bhandari after a meeting with Fernandes.
In a press note, Bhandari said the Superintendent Engineer-Circle I (South) had earlier published a notice informing the general public that due to annual maintenance work, there would be a power shutdown on March 11 from 7 am to 3 pm in entire South Goa, except Ponda taluka.
“Such lengthy power shutdowns during the religious festival and the present heat wave created negative feelings among people of Canacona,” stated Bhandari.
“On hearing news of this lengthy shutdown during Shigmo, many people, youth and some women of Canacona approached me and said the annual Jaatra, Divja Utsav of Shri Mallikarjun Devasthan will be held on Saturday. They narrated how women are likely to suffer due to the power shut down and how it affects their Divja Ustav, Upvas to be observed that day.”
On Thursday, Bhandari said he met the Chief Electrical Engineer at Panaji and submitted a memorandum, appraising him of various problems likely to be faced by people due to the scheduled power shutdown.
“I also brought to his notice that not only Canacona but the traditional Shigmo festival of Sanguem, Quepem, Dharbandora, Salcete talukas will be adversely affected due to power shut down. I further apprised him that the power shut down would result in a water crisis, putting the lives of people in South Goa in further quandary. The heat wave will also negatively affect the Jatra, shigmo festival due to power shutdown.”
“After hearing my contentions, the CEE immediately contacted the Chief Minister and Power Minister and brought this issue to their notice. Both were kind enough to agree to defer/postpone the power shut down declared on March 11 and decided to arrange it some other day after the Shigmo festival gets over. The CEE also instructed the SE- Circle I (South) to issue a notice informing the general public about the postponement of power shutdown,” stated Bhandari.
“I would like to know who has taken this arbitrary decision which hurts our religious sentiments? How can anybody plan such a lengthy shut down in the middle of one of the important traditional Hindu festivals. I request the electricity department to inquire into the entire episode and take appropriate action on those responsible for this mess,” demanded Bhandari.
