Margao: Power Minister Nilesh Cabral conceded that his department is “defunct” due to which he is not able to provide white paper on its functioning.
The minister was addressing reporters in Margao when he admitted that the affairs of the department are in mess.
“I had told that I would be giving a white paper (on functioning of the department). But I can’t give it. The department is defunct,” Cabral said.
Cabral said “I have to see what we can do to revive the department.”
“Right now I cant give white paper as at present I want to strengthen my stores, my meter testing division and others. Let me put things in place and then I will tell people of Goa how I am going to work,” he said.
The minister claimed that there is delay on the part of State Finance Deparment to clear the proposals but refused to blame Chief Minister Parrikar, who also holds the portfolio (finance).
“It is not only my department. For anything to buy, we need to go to finance department. Finance minister who is chief minister is helping. But it is taking time. The process has to be simplified,” he commented.
He said that the State government is in the process of framing “Streelights Policy” owing to the increasing complaints of non functional streetlights.
“Today we are making street light policies. I have written to the panchayats and municipalities to give their suggestions,” he said.
The minister said there are seven departments involved in maintaining the streetlights. “I am streamlining the system where I (Power Department) will be accountable for the street lights of Goa,” he said.
