WHY IS GOA ‘POWERLESS?’

IN the ongoing monsoon Legislative Assembly Minister for Power Sudin Davalikar stated that in the last 17 months Goa has witnessed 19,119 power cuts! This works around to an average of 1,120 per month or 37 per day. These whooping numbers are from Jan 2024 to May 2025 with maximum outages in substation XVI in Margao (5,276), followed by VI in Mapusa (2,422) and VII in Curchorem (2,254). The reasons ascribed are: grid failure, snapping of conductors, faults in underground cables, tripping of transformers, among others.
We could also add: shortage of staff, no permanent recruitments, funds (whether made available or spent elsewhere), lack of supervision when electrical works are carried out, and probable absence of coordination between departments that lead to damage of cables and installations when utility lines (drainage and water pipes, internet and cable TV) are laid or other infrastructure works are underway.
Also, add “acts of god” such as heavy winds, monsoon, landslides, etc. Thankfully, there are not many major power-guzzling factories and industries in Goa that could either lead to or be affected by, frequent power failure.
The minister has many a time urged the use of solar energy which is also encouraged by the government by providing significant subsidies. But it is equally important to identify the root reasons for 1000s of power failures and strive to drastically reduce the incidents.
—Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem

`LAWS OF LOGIC’ MAKES TENANCY CASES DISAPPEAR?
THE “laws of logic” generally refer to fundamental principles that govern valid reasoning and argumentation. These laws are foundational to rational thought and are often traced back to Aristotle’s work. The core set includes the Law of Identity, Law of Non-Contradiction, and Law of Excluded Middle. These laws are considered self-evident and are assumed before any logical reasoning or proof can be established.
Law of Identity states that every object is identical to itself (A is A). For example, if something is a cat, then it is a cat. Law of Non-Contradiction asserts that a statement and its negation cannot both be true at the same time and in the same sense. For instance, a statement like “The sky is blue” and “The sky is not blue” cannot both be true simultaneously. The Law of Excluded Middle states that for any proposition, either that proposition or its negation must be true; there is no third option.
For example, either it is raining or it is not raining. There is no other possibility. These laws are considered essential for constructing sound arguments and ensuring logical consistency in thought and discourse. But an advocate argues that, after the death of the applicant, if there is delay in bringing heirs on record, then there is no case remains, even if delay of condonation application is filed. There after a tenancy case disappears! Whereas, same lawyer brings heirs of same family himself on record in other case to bring stay order. What lawful logic is this?
—Rajesh Banaulikar, Arpora-Nagoa, Goa.