Residents of Siolim and Anjuna marched to the office of the Executive Engineer of the Electricity Department in Panaji on Tuesday.
MAPUSA
Constant power interruptions have become a major source of frustration for residents of the coastal villages of Siolim and Anjuna, prompting angry locals to march to the Electricity Department offices in Mapusa and Panaji on Tuesday demanding immediate action.
The protest comes after several days of frequent and prolonged power outages, with residents alleging that electricity supply has been disrupted almost every hour, making life miserable during the peak summer heat.
Led by Congress North Goa District President Shashank Narvekar, the residents first gathered at the Electricity Department office in Mapusa where they confronted officials over the recurring disruptions and sought answers.
Former Siolim-Sodiem sarpanch Francis Fernandes expressed the growing anger among villagers.
"For the last several days we have been facing power cuts almost every hour, causing immense inconvenience and hardship to people. How long are we expected to suffer like this?" Fernandes asked officials.
He warned that public patience was wearing thin and urged the department to resolve the issue before the situation escalates further.
Local resident Gajanan Tilve accused the department of failing to prioritise the needs of ordinary consumers.
"Imagine living through this heat with power going off every now and then. We have repeatedly demanded that the department stop sanctioning power connections to large projects when existing consumers are already suffering due to inadequate infrastructure," he said.
After spending nearly an hour at the Mapusa office, the protesters proceeded to the office of the Executive Engineer in Panaji, where they intensified their demand for a permanent solution to the recurring outages.
Addressing the gathering, Narvekar linked the power disruptions to the rapid growth of large-scale developments in the coastal belt.
"While villas, luxury projects and mega developments continue to receive power connections, local residents are being forced to endure frequent outages. The department must first strengthen its infrastructure before approving additional high-consumption projects," he said.
Narvekar argued that rising electricity demand from commercial and residential developments was putting excessive pressure on the existing network, resulting in frequent disruptions for ordinary households.
The protesters demanded that the department immediately address the infrastructure shortcomings and ensure a reliable power supply to the affected villages.
Executive Engineer Kashinath Shetye assured the residents that their concerns would be examined and that the department would work towards finding a solution to the recurring problem.
However, residents said they would continue to monitor the situation closely, warning that further agitation could follow if the frequent power cuts persist.
