After North Goa, South red-flags proposed hike in power tariff

MARGAO
Power consumers from South Goa red-flagged the controversial proposal to hike power tariff, as they called for an audit of the Electricity Department, including its finances and the defaulters bleeding the department over the years.

Submitting strong objections before the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission at the South Goa District Collectorate on Tuesday, powers consumers opposed the proposal to hike power tariff tooth and nail. Instead, they strongly suggested to the Electricity Department to tone up the recovery of huge outstanding arrears, sending a message loud and clear to the government not to further burden the common power consumers while leaving the defaulters scot-free.

After Chief Electrical Engineer, Stephen Fernandes gave a power point presentation in support of the power tariff hike, social activist Judith Almeida set the ball rolling as she questioned the tariff hike, demanding a stop to pilferage and loot of power running into lakhs of rupees. “Why are you burdening the common man, when the rich and the mighty, besides the politicians are allowed to go scot-free,” she said.

She further questioned the failure to generate solar energy, beginning with the host of government buildings. “These government buildings should have played host to solar panels. There’s gross misuse of power in the government departments. The government has failed to tap the solar energy for its own use,” she slammed.

Calling for an audit of illegal establishments involving in power thefts and stop abuse and misuse of power, Judith called for inspection of the establishments, how they resort to illegal tapping of power.

She also called for an audit of underground cables laid by the department, demanding a holistic development by the government, pointing out damage to cables laid by other departments.

In this respect, CEE Stephen later agreed to the suggestion for planning while laying underground cabling, saying the department does face challenges while laying cables on narrow roads.

Goa Forward leader Dilip Prabhudesai has termed the hearing as a farce saying the Commission will effect the tariff hike as proposed by the government. He said the situation for a power tariff hike will not arise if the Electricity Department reduces the huge power losses and recover the huge outstanding arrears. “We will be in a position to provide small consumers and agricultural farmers using 100 power units free power if the government reduces the losses and recover the arrears,” Dilip added.

Activist Jack Mascarenhas raised the question whether there is any independent audit carried out to verify the need for a tariff hike. He also demanded for details on power plants, the investment and the operations.

Activist Kim Miranda raised the question of illegal tapping by the establishments. She also demanded to know whether there’s any infrastructure set up for charging stations given the sale of electric vehicles in the State.

GOACAN secretary Lorna Fernandes, Zarina Da Cunha and many others questioned the rational behind the power tariff hike and the measures taken by the government to reduce the losses and recover the outstanding arrears.