Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660
Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/
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------------------------------------------------------------------- Meet exposes govt officials for 'unfulfilled' promises -------------------------------------------------------------------- Government officials representing various departments were caught napping on Wednesday after consumer rights activists exposed them for their "unkept" promises and failed deadlines, even as the Souh Goa District Consumer Protection Council held its first ever meeting here this morning.
While the major task before the meeting was to put in place various sub-committees under the Act, consumer activists stole the show when they sought details over past action concerning the departments.
Be it the Department of Transport or Police, Power, BSNL or Communications, the officials were caught on the wrong foot since they could not honour the past deadlines. Even the District Magistrate was found wanting in giving a satisfactory explanation over the action initiated against persons responsible for the death of a minor in Cuncolim last year.
Activists maintained that promises by the Transport and Police Departments to reign in on the erring bus operators after last year's Velim bus remained hollow. The bi-monthly meeting planned in the first week of October is yet to take place. "The buses do not issue tickets, nor the conductors wear uniforms. The registration certificates are non-displayed inside the vehicle, while playing of music continues", contended the activists.
The RTO and the police have now agreed to meet activists once in two-months.
The power department also came in for close scrutiny from the activists. It was pointed out that the department did not reply to the points raised by activists from Cuncolim over the non-functioning of street lights.
There was unison amongst all the members present that the Power department had to issue literature to consumers while installing electronic meters. While the Superintending Engineer maintained that the literature cannot be provided, he had to be reminded the right of a consumer for information under the Act.
The BSNL was the most complained department. Complaints of excess billing and sub-standard services poured in, even as members felt that the district level consumer Council ought to be attended by the DyGM, BSNL.
There was no answer when an activist asked on the action taken on the death of a minor near a culvert construction site at Cuncolim last year. When Additional Magistrate, G P Naik sought to say that the complaint was forwared to the PWD, the activists reminded him that this was done in July last year and nothing concrete cam till date. Acute parking problems in Margao town were also raised by an activist. --------------------------------- HERALD 6/1/05 - page 5 ----------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK --------------------------------------------------------------------------- an initiative of GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE to promote civic and consumer rights in Goa --------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goacan.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------