Four villages to benefit from works worth Rs 89 crore
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Frequent power outages may be a thing of the past in Navelim in the next year, with the power infrastructure in the constituency receiving a big boost from the government.
The four villages of Navelim, Telaulim, Aquem-Baixo, and Davorlim will get underground power cabling worth Rs 89 crore. Around 131 new power transformers will be installed across the villages, in addition to the 10 new transformers allotted to the Navelim constituency under the central government scheme.
Launching the underground cabling works in the constituency on Monday in the presence of Navelim ZP Member Cipru Cardozo, Our Lady of Rosary Church, Navelim Parish Priest Fr Gabriel Coutinho, and others, Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar said the underground cabling will go a long way in providing significant relief to the power consumers in the four villages.
“When the population and the villages are growing rapidly, infrastructure, including power, should keep pace with the requirements. Once the underground power cabling is executed at an estimated cost of Rs 89 crore, Navelim should not experience power woes in the next five years,” he said.
Saying that power, water, and roads are the basic necessities of the common man, Tuenkar stated it is the duty of the elected representatives to meet these requirements of the people. “People do not want money or special benefits from the elected representatives. What they look forward to are the basic necessities of life -- power, water, and roads,” he said.
“I am happy to launch the underground power cabling work in the Navelim constituency on the eve of Diwali festivities and the ensuing feast of the Our Lady of Rosary Church, Navelim,” he said while requesting the people to extend their wholehearted cooperation to the contractor and officials to execute the work.
Parish Priest Fr Gabriel Coutinho said that Navelim has been witnessing frequent power outages in recent times, so much so that he had to spend Rs 18,000 per week on diesel to run a power generator. While thanking the Navelim MLA for initiating the underground power cabling projects, Fr Gabriel called upon the people to avail themselves of the government scheme to install solar panels for the generation of renewable energy. Fr Gabriel also thanked the linesmen for putting their lives at risk to attend to power issues.
In his address, Navelim ZP Member Cardozo said it was a dire need to have power transformers in Navelim, given the power outages witnessed in the village, while thanking MLA Tuenkar for fulfilling the needs of villagers.
