Query arises as to why MMC has not dismantled fixtures
MARGAO
When solar energy is the flavour of the season, with government unveiling schemes to incentive citizens to go for solar power, defunct solar panels and lamps continue to stand tall in the iconic Margao Municipal garden without any rhyme or reason.
Installed around a decade and half ago under the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) scheme, these solar panels, however, soon turned defunct for want of upkeep and maintenance. The million dollar question remains unanswered – what has stopped successive Councils to dismantle the defunct panels or put them to re-use with new panels?
The 50 solar panels were installed at the iconic Municipal garden and around the heritage Margao Municipal building with the avowed objective of illuminating the Municipal square through solar energy.
Sources said the solar panels had cost the Civic body around Rs 3.5 lakh under the GEDA scheme, with five years maintenance. However, the panels turned defunct after around 2-3 years for want of regular upkeep and maintenance by the contractor.
Since then, the solar panels have been standing tall in the Municipal garden and around the Municipal building, throwing up question or two why the civic body has till date not got the GI pipes and panels were dismantled and lifted away.
There seemed no answer forthcoming from the Margao civic body and the powers that be till date as a result of which the defunct panels continues as a eyesore in the Municipal garden.
When The Goan drew attention of Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar to shed light on the solar panels, he sought to know who was responsible for putting up the solar panels in the garden in the first place.
“I have got some of the panels removed which were posing danger to pedestrians. The Margao Municipality has now handed over the Municipal garden to the Forest department for its upkeep and maintenance. The Forest department will take a call on the defunct panels”, he said.
He added: “Are the solar panels working and who had put the panels in the garden. We find the GI pipes and the panels around. I have no idea about the concept since it was implemented years before. I have nothing to say about the project”.
