MAPUSA
The major underground power cabling work in Mapusa has hit a roadblock as the Mapusa civic body has been dragging its feet to issue a no objection certificate (NOC) to the electricity department for road cutting.
While the power department has received the consignment of cables and allied gadgets some months back, work cannot be undertaken for want of permission from the civic body.
The Assistant Engineer had applied for road cutting permission to lay the underground cables way back in early January this year.
The electricity department has also submitted the entire cable route map for the town along with excavation dimensions to the municipality.
But the civic body has so far failed to issue the NOC to the power department.
Nearly two months ago, the Mapusa Municipal Council had passed a resolution in the ordinary council meeting to issue consent to the electricity department for road cutting for underground cabling.
After a brief discussion, the council decided to give a conditional NOC to the electricity department for road cutting.
The city fathers were unanimous in its decision that underground cabling of power lines was the need of the hour but also stressed that the NOC would be subject to the condition that the work would be completed within two years.
The councillors also emphasised that the work should be taken up street-wise and the patch-up work of the road should be taken up as soon as the cable was laid so as to avoid inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians.
The Executive Engineer of Mapusa electricity department, Pradip Narvekar informed that his office has been following up the matter with the municipality.
“We have asked the municipality to at least issue a provisional NOC for road cutting so that the contractor can start with the work. We are also ready to submit a willingness letter to deposit the amount to reinstate the road,” Narvekar said.
According to Chairperson of the Mapusa Municipal Council, Shubangi Vaigankar, the council will issue permission to the power department in the next eight days.
“After passing of resolution in the council (in April) it was pending for confirmation. We will clear it and issue the NOC in the next eight days,” Vaigankar said.
The total cost of the underground cabling project is Rs 117 crore. The work entails laying of entire 11KV lines (high tension lines) and part of LT (low tension) underground. The stipulated time to complete the work is 24 months.
The underground cabling is a major project which once completed is expected to reduce the constant power interruption in town.
