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Goa CM wakes up to the pitfalls of power

Removing Power Minister Mauvin Godinho promises to provide relief for Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane, with the Opposition raising a hue and cry over the multi-million power scandal in the ongoing assembly session. Adding to the Congress chief minister, even the high court has hauled up his government for the power crisis in the tourist state.

Opposition parties have been disrupting the assembly proceedings in the monsoon session that began last Monday, demanding the power minister's resignation. He is allegedly involved in a power rebate scandal and has also been charged with being responsible for worst-ever power situation in the tourist state.

After raising a pandemonium every day since the beginning of the assembly session, members of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party even boycotted question hour once, refusing to listen to Godinho. They are now further planning a strategy for July 15, the day for demands for grants on power.

The whole issue has taken a dramatic turn with the chief secretary, in an affidavit before the high court, blaming the power minister for restoring power connection to Mormugao Steel Industry, in violation of the high court order. Its dues are now nearing Rs 100 million.

The matter of illegal power rebate to the tune of Rs 500 million to several power guzzling units as well as non-recovery of dues amounting over Rs 300 million is currently being heard before the Goa bench of the Bombay high court.

Manohar Parrikar, a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA, had exposed the power rebate scandal recently. Fearing a public outcry, the cabinet then refused to ratify the illegal notification Godinho had issued in 1996, granting rebate to the power-guzzling units.

Following this, the high court has now banned the release of any new power connections except to domestic consumers and public utility services, while also restricting the use of public lighting and illumination. The tourist state is currently facing an acute power shortage, resulting in repeated load-shedding and power shutdowns.

State Opposition leader Kashinath Jalmi has announced that the boycott of the power minister would continue till he resigns. Former chief minister Shashikala Kakodkar, belonging to the MGP, has called Rane a "spineless chief minister" for not taking any action against his cabinet colleague.

It, however, appears that the affidavit filed by the chief secretary had the blessings of Rane, who is systematically preparing a case for his colleague's inevitable ouster. He seems to be also under heavy pressure from the whole bureaucracy, which has refused to oblige the power minister any more.

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