Porvorim, Aug 8 (TNN): Power minister Milind Naik who had to face MLA after MLA complaining about the frequency of power failures experienced across the state in the last few months, said he has instructed his department to prepare constituency-wise estimates for undertaking underground cabling work.
Replying to queries put forward by members as to when the situation would normalize, Naik told the Goa legislative assembly on Thursday that underground cabling is the answer to the problem. He said the funds required for the state-wide initiative would be huge with the work starting in a phased manner at priority areas.
The underground cabling of 11 KVA line which is directly linked with the line supplying electricity to domestic consumers will be undertaken first.
Cutting across party lines, members criticized the government for its inefficiency in dealing with power outages. Rural areas were worst hit during the monsoon, members complained.
Chief minister Manohar Parrikar said he will sanction 300 crore to the electricity department to undertake infrastructure upgradation which has not been undertaken in several years. "The planning has not been done for seven-and-a-half-years," said Parrikar urging the members to be patient for a few more months.