NT NETWORK
MARGAO
Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar, who visited the power house at Aquem-Margao on Wednesday, said that roads across the state will be illuminated by LED lights by May-end. He also said that the state requires around 1,80,000 LED lights and work is half completed.
Madkaikar said, “There is only one contractor to fit LED lights and so it took more time. Nevertheless by May-end, streets across Goa will be illuminated with LED lights.”
Madkaikar also said that the power house at Aquem faces a number of problems with some needing immediate attention. He said, “There is a shortage of material including conductors, electricity poles, meters etc and their procurement is needed in the interest of power consumers. This will be my priority. The electricity department is trying its best to issue bills on a monthly basis to all the consumers with the creation of the more modes of payment.”
Madkaikar visited all offices in the power house, the store rooms, incomplete canteen building and advised staff to be punctual. He also directed the engineers concerned to arrange files dumped in their respective offices systematically.
“Why can’t you attend to the visitors if I can do so?” the minister questioned an engineer after a power consumer approached him stating that he was hanging at the engineer’s office since ten in the morning just for a signature to sanction a power connection. Madkaikar summoned the engineer and signature was instantly put on the file. The minister sought to know how only an executive engineer’s office is housed in the incomplete building without any occupancy certificate for the building.
Responding to the media query on the fault finding machine for the underground cabling system adopted by the electricity department, the minister said that the contractor is bound to provide such machines and that the power department is also trying to procure more such machines.
“Once the underground cabling is completed in Goa, there would be permanent solution to these problems,’’ he maintained. The minister said that he will take instant action against power thieves if any one approaches him.
Madkaikar said that he has convened a meeting of South Goa MLAs in the South Goa Collectorate building on May 2 to discuss the pre-monsoon works.
“South Goa has many power problems, I will try and visit South Goa once a month to hear people’s grievances,’’ the minister said before leaving the power house.