Chaos at Margao power dept office after staff tests positive for COVID

NT NETWORK

Margao

Chaos reigned supreme at the electricity department as hundreds of people had queued up to pay their electricity bills. The department has been witnessing huge crowds after cheque drop facility was dropped allowing only cash and online payments.

Confusion prevailed after the office was closed to public after a senior staff had tested positive for coronavirus. Nearly 30 staff was also tested while reports are awaited.

The residents expressed their displeasure over the confusion created by the department in withdrawing the cheque drop facilities and instead insisting on cash and online payments.

Even staff expressed their displeasure over the functioning of the department as there is little space of maintaining social distancing.

The people said that they have been waiting for nearly an hour to pay the bills but were informed that the department is closed for public in view of a staff testing positive. He said not all people are well versed with online payments. Instead if a drop box facility was there it would have eased the pressure on customers who could just drop the cheques and return home in view of the dangers of the pandemic.

It may be recalled that the chief engineer had recently issued a circular withdrawing the cheque drop facility limiting the payment to online and cash modes only.

The staff on the other hand who did not want to be named said there is a big rush from 10 am and there is no space for maintaining social distancing as the building is located near the road. The staff has to find their way through the crowds exposing them to the danger of the highly infectious virus.