PACHU MENON
Apart from the economic pangs of a lackluster year experienced, Goa has admittedly gone through a virtual phase of ‘hibernation’ in every aspect of governance. The consequences of a ‘medical’ paralysis of the government which saw some unethical political dramas being enacted in the state further adds to the insolence.
With a government that, of late, has put the whole state in a quandary over a coterie forming within its ranks tearing into it for its ‘inconsiderate’ leanings, the amalgamated façade of unity projected are delayed responses of a political combine striving to remain unaffected to the sordid dramas being enacted in the portals of power.
If the ‘erroneous’ circular that sent shivers down the spine of key allies in the coalition is any indication of the power plays in progress, the power minister is indeed placed as a ‘power centre’ in the political scenario of the region today!
But have these power ploys improved the ‘current’ situation in Goa! Unfortunately for Goa - No!
Making ‘light’ of the state of affairs, the locals continues to be ‘shocked’ by the services of the department which come nowhere near the ‘electrifying’ standards set.
Today, the key to prosperity is energy “ cheap constant energy and masses of it!
While industries and manufacturing units as the economic stay of the country have found it difficult to cope up with the increasing demands, the irregular supplies will however be overcome by the self-sufficiency of most of the units that have alternate sources of energy to sustain them.
However, any government that finds itself in a dilemma over providing the basic essential service to its citizens will soon find itself scaling the peaks of unpopularity.
Frequently interrupted power supply in Goa is one major reason for the discontent among people who are at loss to understand the fluctuations that are an inevitable accompaniment to the numerous black-outs that characterize the power scenario in the state today which otherwise boasts of the latest by way of innovations.
The constantly escalating power tariffs, though borne stoically by the locals, have failed to improve the overall situation.
With a new power minister at the helm, Goans envisage an improvement in the state of affairs. His commitment to 24x7 power supply in the state appears to have a ring of sincerity around it considering his reluctance to implement the new electricity charges unless he achieves the objective.
But as with every new induction into the state cabinet, will he too flatter to deceive! Only time will tell!
However, if the sight of streetlights lit 24 hours of the day in most parts of the state is any indication of his guarantee of uninterrupted power supply in the state, Goans can be assured of at least one politician sticking to his promises after assuming power!
It does not really matter that it is the ‘public fixtures’ that he is attending to first, does it! But the realization that it is the tax-payers money that is being squandered should dissuade him from endorsing such wasteful practices that his department is so very accustomed to.
As a leader committed to a vision, could the minister afford to overlook the criminal negligence in wasting such precious energy! The entire electricity department should collectively bear the brunt of the blame and ensure that such sights become a thing of the past.
For long has the state been disturbed by the brusque manners of the department employees who apparently take a sadistic pleasure in harassing the locals. Right from a meter reader to the technical and administrative staff employed, it is as if every official has a chip on one’s shoulder.
In Goa it is not unusual to find government departments and corporations filled to the brim with employees who owe their presence there to the ‘largesse’ of concerned ministers. Maybe the arrogance of the staff stems from this feeling.
The incident where, after a near collision, the driver of a department vehicle ‘advised’ a fellow-driver on the road to approach the power minister if he had any complaints regarding his rash driving is evident of a long-standing custom where any irregularity observed is to absolved on the strength of the offender’s ‘proximity’ to the minister.
Of course, certain linesmen have enjoyed the confidence of the villagers for the prompt services rendered so much so that at times the whole village has risen up as one to protest their transfer. But the new corps of employees is conspicuous by the indolence and irresponsible behavior exhibited.
With a crippled and outdated distribution network, electrical outages has been the order of the day in Goa and gram sabhas held all over the state periodically have villagers hollering over the issue and ultimatums being issued for resolving the power crisis. But for temporary accommodations, has the electricity department ever thought of long-term plans to tide over the problems!
With a system in place where citizens could engage the electricity department in addressing their electricity issues, phone calls to the trouble-shooting desk go unanswered most of the times. Even if they are attended, the standard reply that ‘main supply has gone’ greets the caller.
At times the complainant is informed about faults on the High-Tension line as if the department expects the caller to know about transformers, jumpers and such other electrical engineering terms.
Hence the power minster’s SMS-invention which assures instant light on receipt of complaint on his cell-phone may not enthuse many people considering that the multitude is by now accustomed to such popularity stunts attempted by politicians over the years to serve their cause.
The state government has all along believed in ‘patchworks’ to overcome knotty situations and the electricity department has not been any different. As with the PWD resorting to the tamashas of repairing pot-holed roads on a regular basis, Goans are destined to live with an electricity department that is not all embarrassed to emulate its ‘compatriot’ in fixing power problems - or so it appears!
Goa requires major reforms in the power sector with complete overhaul of the existing infrastructure. As rightly said, it is indeed an uncomfortable feeling to note that when the world is making rapid strides with the latest technological developments, Goa is still struggling to fix a fuse.
The power minister should set his house in order first before embarking on his visionary promises!
