Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (RJP)

Kundapur, Nov 25: The dream of having an operational substation at Gangolli will remain a dream unless and until a dispute is resolved. The newly-built 33 KV Mescom Gangolli substation is ready but not operational yet.

There are no indications to believe the that dispute between Mescom and Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation (KCDC) will be sorted out soon. The project after years of hard work and crores of spending is yet to be operational.

The substation proposal was sanctioned in 2011 by Mescom under the Byndoor Mescom division. A site in Melgangolli belonging to Mescom was identified as the place for the construction of the substation. The work was completed well in time. But due to a dispute by KCDC the work has been stalled.

Nobody knows how long it will take now to get the project working. The electrical line passes through the land belonging to KCDC in Gujjadi and Hosadu villages.

The KCDC asked Mescom not to continue with the work. But later it demanded Rs 67 lacs. A mutual agreement was reached and Mescom agreed to pay Rs 11 lacs to KCDC. Accordingly Mescom paid Rs 11 lacs later to KCDC.

However, KCDC reportedly started demanding Rs 22 lacs. Mescom did not know what to do. It only could negotiate. The efforts by Mescom officials and local businesspersons to find a solution for the issue have failed so far.

The equipment installed but not operational has started gathering dust. Everything is complete except the wiring of lines in the substation project and some work in the disputed land.

The money spent on the project cannot yield results and serve the intended purpose until the substation becomes fully operational.