MARGAO
Just guess the status of the investigations into the mystery surrounding the death of the middle-aged Rajasthan tourist by electrocution reported at Colva beach on July 14, 2022.
It took three months for the Colva police to register a case of negligence against the contractor engaged by the Department of Tourism to execute the Colva beautification works. After groping in dark over the last three months in the matter, the Colva police have finally registered an FIR against the contractor for negligence under Section 204-A of the IPC.
The moot question, however, remains unanswered “ whether the Goa Police would take the investigations to the logical conclusion, culminating in a chargesheet and whether the police will also bring officials under the scanner as demanded by the civil society.
The Colva police have registered the FIR against the contractor for negligence exactly three months after the death of the middle-aged tourist due to electrocution brought to the centre stage the beautification works executed by the contractor at the world-famous beach.
Questions are being raised how come the police deemed it proper to register the FIR exactly three months later when the autopsy report was clear in attributing the death of the tourist to electrocution and the Power Department submitting a report shedding light on the cable found damaged at the site.
When The Goan called up Colva Police Station in-charge, PI Filomena Costa to shed light on the tourist’s death, he said the police has registered a case of negligence against the contractor engaged by the Department of Tourism. He attributed the delay in registering the FIR to the inquiry carried out by the investigating officer. When asked whether the police would also zero in on any tourism officials in the case along with the contractor, PI Filomena replied saying it all depends on the inquiry.
He added: “It may just be a coincidence that the police have registered the FIR exactly three months after the incident, but the FIR has been registered after inquiry and not by design.”
Residents of Colva, including social activist Judith Almeida had demanded registration of the FIR not only against the contractor, but the tourism officials for what they called the shoddy works executed at Colva. Family members of the deceased had also made a fervent plea to the Goa government for adequate compensation to the kith and kin of the tourist.
Power dept inspection report
Inspection of the electrocution site at Colva beach by the Power department officials after the tragic incident revealed that the insulation sleeve of a phase wire of aluminium cable was found damaged and was touching the internal metal body of the lamp pole.
The inspection report was categorically clear in saying the damage to the insulation sleeve of the phase wire might have caused leakage current to pass through the earthing wire, where the victim is suspected to have come in contact and got electrocuted.
The report had stated: “Upon detailed inspection, it was noted that, on one of the decorative lamp posts (5th pole from left-hand side facing the beach), the insulation sleeve of a phase wire of aluminium cable was found damaged and was touching the internal metal body of pole which might have caused leakage current to pass through earthing wire where the victim is suspected to have come in contact and got electrocuted.”
Was probe conducted into illumination works at Colva?
MARGAO: Has the Department of Tourism conducted any probe into the beautification works executed by the contractor, especially pertaining to the ornamental lamps erected along the Colva beach square?
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte had promised a probe into the illumination works executed by the contractor after local Aam Aadmi Party MLA Capt Venzy Viegas had alleged corruption in the execution of the beautification works.
While returning after an inspection of the Colva beach, the Tourism Minister had asked Tourism Director Nikhil Desai how come the lamps atop the poles have all gone missing, before realisation dawned on the Minister that a couple of lamps had come down like hair pins, probably they could not withstand the strong winds.
A tourist couple had a close shave on the beach square when a lamp had come crashing down close to them.
It was later at the initiative of the local MLA that all the lamps were removed from the poles, and a new set of illumination has been ordered to replace the defective one considering the safety and the world-class status of the Colva beach.
