Probe failed infra projects, submit report in three months: JERC to power dept

Panaji: The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), which regulates the power sector for Goa and Union Territories, has directed the state electricity department to inquire into cases of failed infrastructure projects and submit a detailed reply in three months.

The commission called for the report while responding to a power consumer’s concern over the lack of transparency and accountability in reviewing failed infrastructure projects. The consumer stated that projects like the bunched cable initiative, reportedly resulted in a loss of Rs 140 crore.

The electricity department acknowledged the concern and stated that an investigating committee will review such cases, including failed projects like the bunched cables, and affirmed its commitment to transparency. The commission called for a detailed reply after the investigating committee finishes reviewing inquiries into such cases.

State govt launched the aerial bunch cabling (ABC) project in 2017 to resolve the issue of frequent power cuts in remote areas where underground cabling was not possible. Power minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar, during the monsoon session of the legislative assembly that concluded last month, said there was no progress on the inquiry into the alleged Rs 145 crore failed aerial bunch cabling project. He stated in a written reply to a question that the committee tasked with inquiring into the project was constituted on Oct 27, 2023, but hasn’t met yet due to transfers of officers who were part of the committee, and that a proposal for reconstitution of the committee was forwarded.

“As the chief secretary was holding charge as power secretary, it was approved on May 20, 2025, that the secretary (health) is to be included as the third member. Now that there is a change in the chief secretary and power secretary, a new committee needs to be constituted,” Dhavalikar stated.

In another reply, he said that out of the total of 201km of ABC installed in Panaji, Bicholim, and Mapusa, 39-odd km are operational only in Bicholim. He stated that 162km are not operational and have not been removed.