Colva: A delegation of few sarpanchs from the coastal belt of the Benaulim constituency met the superintendent engineer of the electricity department in Margao to raise concerns over the frequent power outages affecting Cavelossim, Carmona, Orlim, Varca, Benaulim, Colva and Seraulim.Varca Sarpanch Flavia Barreto highlighted the difficulties faced by residents due to frequent voltage fluctuations. She said several households have suffered damage to electrical appliances because of sudden power surges. While acknowledging that Electricity Department personnel respond promptly to reported faults, she said the overall power situation has continued to deteriorate.Orlim Sarpanch Simon Pereira questioned the effectiveness of the substantial expenditure incurred on replacing electricity poles, transmission lines and conductors, besides carrying out periodic shutdowns for tree-trimming along power lines. Despite these measures, he said, there has been no noticeable improvement in the reliability of the power supply. He urged the department to implement a long-term solution to end the recurring disruptions and provide lasting relief to consumers.Superintendent Engineer Rajiv Samant assured the representatives that the department is making every effort to ensure an uninterrupted power supply. He explained that the issue is not confined to the Carmona and Benaulim substations but is also linked to the incoming power supply from the Velim and Cuncolim substations. Any mechanical fault at these substations, he said, results in power interruptions in the affected areas.Samant further attributed the frequent outages to adverse weather conditions, particularly strong winds, which often cause tree branches to fall on or come into contact with power lines, disrupting electricity supply. He assured the delegation that the department is taking steps to address the problem and minimise inconvenience to consumers.
