MARGAO
Is the government’s ‘Save electricity” mantra not applicable to government agencies, including the Power department?
Consider this for an answer. The Aquem ring road illumination was launched with much fanfare by Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar more than a week ago. The road stretch, right from the Margao Fire station to the Aquem power house junction is now well illuminated with the 70 lamps installed by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) funded project.
Rough estimates have pegged that around 70-90 kilowatts of power are consumed by the LED lamps installed on these 70 poles, assuming they function for 10-11 hours between dusk and dawn.
It’s, however, a strange coincidence that when the ring road is illuminated every evening, Margao municipal workers close the road for traffic from dusk to dawn as per the orders of the South Goa district Magistrate to keep at bay miscreants from dumping waste along the ring road, throwing up a moot question “ why are the LED lamps not switched off when the district magistrate’s order has barred the use of the road after dusk?
Take note, these LED lamps are not fancy lamps or lamps that run on solar energy, but are consuming around 90 kilowats of power from dusk to dawn on a road which is closed for traffic around the same time.
Remarked a road user: “There is no problem if the district magistrate and the Margao civic body are of the opinion that the ring road needs to be shut down after dusk to keep away unscrupulous elements dumping waste. But, no authority has the right to waste electricity by keeping the newly-installed LED lamps on when the road is shut for traffic.”
He added: “Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar has come and gone after commissioning the illumination project. But, he should find out from his officials whether the road is being closed after dusk around the same time when the lights are switched on.”
An official pointed out that the district magistrate or the Margao municipality should coordinate with the Electricity department to switch off the ring road illumination when the MMC workers enforce the Collector’s order and erect barricades to close traffic every day. “If road users cannot use the road after dusk and late at night, there’s no point in keeping the street lights on the ring road on till the wee hours of the day. It’s a complete waste of electricity,” the official added.
He suggested that instead of closing the road, the Collector and the MMC should weigh other options, including installing CCTV cameras along the ring road.
MLA bats for Aquem ring road closure from dusk to dawn
MARGAO:
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat has publicly batted for the closure of the Aquem ring road for traffic from dusk to dawn, even pointing out that the ring road is not the only available road open for users.
Margao municipal chairperson Damu Shirodkar too justified the decision behind the ring road closure, saying the road is being kept closed every day to keep at bay miscreants dumping waste.
In fact, without taking names, both Kamat and Shirodkar told the media that those who are demanding the opening of the ring road for traffic should maintain a vigil on the road to stop waste dumping.
“The ring road has been closed for traffic because waste from outside the city was finding its way to the site. Attempts to reign in the waste collectors had failed to evoke the desired result. Then the Collector and the MMC thought to close down the road, which has helped stop garbage dumping alongside the road,” Kamat said, adding that the ring road will be permanently closed once the GSIDC takes up work on the six-laning of the Rawanfond bridge.
The Margao MLA said installing CCTV surveillance cameras along the ring road may not have a desired effect when instances are galore that these devices had damaged the cameras.
MMC chief Damu said that the civic body had caught red-handed a waste collector from Navelim for dumping waste at the ring road.
