Frequent power cuts due to shoddy work done by contractor

'Sub-standard material responsible for outages' TNN | Jul 10, 2013, 03.50 AM IST PANAJI: Faced with constant complaints of frequent power outages, the power department has blamed sub-standard material that had been used and announced plans to replace the materials, besides referring the matter to the ACB for a probe. Addressing mediapersons, power minister Milind Naik said equipment such as insulators had developed cracks and joints on the Porvorim-Tivim underground power line were failing leading to the frequent power outages in the constituencies of Porvorim, Aldona and Saligao in the past one month. Naik said the contactor has been directed to replace all the 96 joints that were laid in 2011 with new and better joints from a German company. Naik said "the underground joints should usually last at least 10-15 years". He further said, "the electricity department had referred the matter to the Anti-Corruption Bureau to go into details like manipulations of prices and corruption thereby defrauding the state exchequer. Upon obtaining the report from the ACB, the guilty officials will be severely punished." Naik announced that the state will purchase and additional 50MW of power to tide over power shortages in the state during the peak hours. This will be addition to the existing 450MW the state already uses. He said the peak time requirement of the state was around 480-490MW and the additional power being bought from the energy bank would help meet the deficit. The power department will also begin a centralised complaints three-digit number helpline that will handle all electricity related complaints. He said the helpline - that will be operational 24x7- will be operational by the end of July. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Sub-standard-material-responsible-for-outages/articleshow/20995732.cms Frequent power cuts due to shoddy work done by contractor July 10, 2013 Govt files complaint with ACB TEAM HERALD PANJIM: The State Power Ministry has lodged a complaint against a contractor with the Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) of Goa Police alleging that he has done shoddy work leading to frequent power failures in north Goa. Addressing a press conference at Secretariat Tuesday, Power Minister Milind Naik said that faulty work and sub-standard materials in executing work under the past-regime has resulted in blackouts in Porvorim, Panjim and coastal areas in the north. “The kits on the 33KV underground double circuit line connecting Tivim to Porvorim, broke down during monsoons. I have initiated inquiry through the ACB to fix the responsibility as to who recommended the incorporation of sub-standard straights through joining kits which is the main cause of power failure,” he said. Frequent power breakdowns were witnessed after Porvorim sub-station, which feeds electricity to Saligao sub-station, stopped getting power supply for few hours. The power cuts had also affected supply to Calangute, Baga, Candolim, Verem, Reis Magos and Saligao besides the city. The minister explained that due to increase in load beyond 33 KV line overhead, the electricity department had issued works orders for laying a direct 33 KV underground double circuit cables in 2011 to feed Porvorim and Saligao sub-stations directly from Tivim sub-station with a back up arrangement for Nachinola sub-station. “The work on connecting Tivim to Porvorim had been completed in February 2013 but within a month the line began crumbling down. Sub-standard material was used by the contractor who was awarded the tender during former Congress regime,” he alleged. More so, the underground cabling at Chimbel was damaged by the PWD which affected power supply to various localities in and around Porvorim. Naik said while a case has been registered, he has directed to replace all about 96 faulty underground cable joints. “Simultaneously, I have also instructed that existing overhead 33 KV line from Tivim sub-station to Porvorim sub-station via Nachinola be re-jumpered in order to strengthen the same,” he said. Panjim, he said had been reeling under power outages, due to ‘negligence on part of the PWD that damaged the undergoing cablings while carrying out excavation work. Meanwhile, the department is on a mass recruitment drive to fill vacancies, which has at present crippled its functioning. The minister assured to fill in a total of 1,600 posts at different levels by August 31. “More than 2,000 posts in various categories like line helpers, assistant linesmen, line men, meter readers, assistant data entry operators, lower division clerks, upper division clerks, head clerks and Junior Engineers are vacant. These will be filled by August end and certainly reduce the backlog,” the minister said. In the absence of adequate manpower, the existing staff has been overburdened as a result of which the performances have been poor, he said. Regarding the inordinate delay in issuing energy bills, improper maintenance of high tension and low tension distribution network, sub stations, distribution transformer centers and other factors have also been observed. On the other hand, the government will outsource billing of 2.18 lakh consumers out of total 5.65 lakh consumers who will get timely bill from September 2013 onwards. The government is also planning to procure four vehicles in addition to four recently procured. While also, a 24-hour centralized call centre having three digit number 135 will be set up within 15 days in order to attend call during power outages. Interestingly, Naik’s press conference comes at the time when Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is accessing the performances of the ministers. The reshuffling of portfolios will be carried out shortly. http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/Frequent-power-cuts-due-to-shoddy-work-done-by-contractor/76719.html Irked Aldonkars protest power cuts TNN | Jul 12, 2013, 01.58 AM IST http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Irked-Aldonkars-protest-power-cuts/articleshow/21027489.cms