Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: In a major development for the remote hamlet of Marlim-Tirval, the Electricity Department has completed a Rs 5.39 crore underground (UG) cabling project spanning 12 km through the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, significantly improving the power infrastructure for the area.
Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar inaugurated the newly laid UG network on Saturday in the presence of Poinguinim Sarpanch Savita Tawadkar, panch Rasika Gaonkar, villagers, and officials from the Electricity Department.
The project involved the laying of 11KV, 120 sq.mm XLPE underground cables and the revamping of two Distribution Transformer Centres (DTCs), one each at Marlim and Tirval. Though the initiative began in 2014, actual groundwork commenced only a year and a half ago after securing all necessary permissions from the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
According to officials, the area earlier suffered frequent power outages, especially during the monsoon, due to the overhead (OH) power lines being damaged by falling trees. The shift to an underground HT cable network from Amona Junction to Marlim via Tirval is now expected to eliminate low voltage issues and power disruptions, ensuring stable and reliable electricity for the residents.
Assistant Engineer Govind Bhat, Junior Engineers Akshay Gaonkar, Anand Komarpant, and Fsattanand Chari were also present at the inauguration, along with local village elders and budvont Ram.
It may be recalled that in protest against the neglect of basic infrastructure, the residents of Marlim-Tirval had boycotted the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, demanding improvements in roads, water supply, and electricity.
