To approach the Centre to sanction funds amounting to Rs 180 crore for works
MARGAO
Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Saturday assured that the government would take up the major work of underground cabling in all the 40 constituencies without any discrimination, saying the government has proposed to the Centre to sanction funds amounting to Rs 180 crore for underground cabling.
He also said the government is exploring the possibility of availing loan under JICA to tone up the power infrastructure across the State.
The Power Minister had a meeting with MLAs from five constituencies of Salcete, including Margao, Fatorda, Navelim, Nuvem and Navelim and the Power officials at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, to understand the issues plaguing the Power department.
“There will be no discrimination on underground power cabling. The work will be carried out in all the constituencies,” he said, when a scribe drew his attention to the fact that underground cabling has been carried out in the constituencies of former Power ministers.
He added: “Underground cabling work requires a huge amount of funds. Hence, it is being taken up in phases. A kilometre of underground cabling cost around Rs 50 lakh. But, our government has taken a decision to approach the Centre for funds amounting to Rs 180 crore for the underground cabling work. We are also exploring the possibility of getting a loan under JICA.”
The Minister further said that he would approach the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on how best to regularise daily and contract workers employed in the Power Department for around a decade and half now. The issue was raised by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, who made a fervent plea to the Minister to protect the interests of the daily wage and contract workers.
Dhavalikar also assured to institute an inquiry to find out how come the underground cabling work from Seraulim village, which was earlier part of Loutolim constituency, was shifted to another area.
The Power Minister also accepted the suggestion made by Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequeira to consider increasing the insurance of the electricity staff to Rs 25 lakh. “I will place the matter with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant since the matter comes under the purview of the Finance department,” he added.
Sudin receives hosts of complaints on power woes during interaction with Salcete MLAs
MARGAO: Corroded electric poles, aged conductors, lack of cranes and lifts, fixtures not repaired on time et all were the host of complaints Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar had to grapple with during his interaction with Salcete MLAs on Saturday.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat highlighted the issue of corroded electric poles in his constituency, Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequeira said that absence of cranes and lifts have held up the work of replacement of fixtures and lamps. Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco on the other hand said conductors come crashing down even without a tree falling on them since they are old.
After visiting the Pajifond sub-station where the department is repairing the fixtures from all over the State, Dhavalikar said that the government would take a decision within 15 days to set up another fixtures repair facility in North Goa, preferably in an industrial estate. “All the fixtures which need repairs are brought to Margao, repaired and sent back. This is a tedious job and hence it has been decided to set up another fixture repair facility in the North,” he said.
The Minister also conceded that defunct fixtures are not being brought for repairs on time because of the logistics issues such as absence of cranes and lifts. “The government will take a call on the procurement of cranes and lifts,” he added.
On ageing conductors in Curtorim constituency, Dhavalikar assured the Curtorim MLA that the old conductors will be replaced within the next two months. “We have also decided to shift the power transformer from the Lohia Maidan. But, people should cooperate when there’s a shutdown,” he said.
Admitting that around 500 MS electric poles in Margao constituency are corroded and lying in a dilapidated state, the Power Minister said the department will replace the poles at the earliest.
