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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-------------------------------------------------- PWD faces a different type of leakage this time its cash not water !! -------------------------------------------------- In an interesting case of the callous attitude of the PWD. their Mapusa office conveniently shut down from 1st September the cash counter for payment of bills which used to operate at the PWD office opposite the KTC Bus stand, Mapusa with out any prior public notice.
There was no notice put up at the Counter stating that the same will be closed and moreover the board stating cash payments are accepted and the date and time were still displayed.
From 1st September a number of consumers have been going to the cash counter and finding the counter window closed, have been moving around trying to make sense of what has happened. On the wall the PWD has pasted a notice stating that cash payments are accepted in the Banks and Co-operative Credit Societies.
Interestingly the Mapusa PWD office still continues to take payment of bills but only through cheques. Reliable sources pointed out that the counter was closed as the cash paid by the consumers at this counter was not actually finding its way to the Govt. treasury. The higher ups in the Department noticed what they call "leakage of revenue" and ordered the PWD office at Mapusa to stop accepting bill payments by cash.
Many consumers especially women and senior citizens faced with the problem passed on a complaint to Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network (GOACAN)
On receiving the complaint, GOACAN activists visited the PWD office and verified that the board was still on display and the cash counter window was even open. After lodging a formal complaint in the complaint book of the office of Assistant Engineer Achutha Rao, the AE was instructed to immediately remove the cash counter board and issue a press notification to all newspapers about the closure of the cash counter for payment of bills. Mr Rao accepted that they had not made any public announcement and promised to issue the same immediately.
This is not the first time PWD consumers are facing such indifference and a callous attitude from the Department. In fact many suggestions and recommendations submitted by various Consumers Forums to the PWD Chief Engineer have remained unattended. It is hoped that the newly constituted District Consumer Protection Councils set up as per amendment to the Consumer Protection Act 1986 will make the PWD more accountable to its consumers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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