the goan I network
MARGAO
It was the turn of the women from Navelim village, including senior citizens, who made a fervent plea to the government to restore the power bills payment facility at the local cooperative societies for their convenience.
Power consumers from Raia, Cavelossim and other villages of Salcete had been demanding that the government provide facilities at the villages for the payment of power bills and save them the ordeal from travelling all the way to the Aquem Power House.
A group of women told the media that ever since the government discontinued the services of the local cooperative societies, who were accepting the power bills, the consumers, more so the women have been put to great hardships. They also claimed that the discontinuance of the bill payment service at the village level cooperative societies has only forced many a gullible consumers to unscrupulous agents, who offer to pay the bills online by charging fees in the range of Rs 30-50.
The women clarified that they are not against the government’s move to introduce online payment of power bills, but made a plea to the Power Minister Nilesh Cabral to continue the bill payment facility at the village level societies.
A power consumer Meera Fernandes told the media that she has been left with no option than to hire a motorcycle by paying Rs 100 to go to the Aquem Power house to clear the bills. Her order does not end. Meera pointed out that she and hundreds of power consumers have to stand in huge queues and wait for their turn to clear the bill, in the process losing precious time and money.
Like many other women, Meera has requested the government to restore the power bill payment facility at the local cooperative societies, saying the societies used to accept bills even on holidays, including Sundays.
