MARGAO
Days after Power Minister Ramkrishna Sudin Dhavalikar commissioned the Margao ring road illumination with fanfare, the Margao Municipal Council has found itself in a piquant situation.
For, the Margao municipality had got the District Magistrate, South issue an order to close the road for traffic between dusk and dawn to stop miscreants from dumping waste along the ring road. Post-commissioning of the illumination project, the civic body is facing another question of sorts “ what’s the point in illuminating the ring road when it continues to remain shut during the night?
Another question that may come to haunt the civic body is why to illuminate the road and burn electricity when the road is not being put to use between dusk and dawn.
After Dhavalikar launched the illumination project, the Margao municipality has not decided to reopen the ring road for traffic, notwithstanding municipal workers manning the road at night are facing the brunt of the irate motorists.
The Goan understands that the municipal workers deployed to enforce the Collector’s order on road closure had to contend with heated arguments from the travelling public, questioning the rationale behind closing the ring road.
No reason to keep illuminated ring road closed at night: SCM
MARGAO:
The Shadow Council for Margao has said that with the Ring Road now illuminated, there is absolutely no rhyme or reason to keep this well-illuminated road closed during the night hours.
"However, alternatively, if the Margao MLA still wishes to satisfy his ego at the cost of inconveniencing the general public, then the lights can well be switched off, thereby saving electricity and public funds,” SCM convenor Savio Coutinho informed.
Reacting sharply to the reported statement of Margao MLA Digamber Kamat, that Savio Coutinho should nab the culprits who dump the waste along the Ring Road, the SCM convener said the Shadow Council for Margao is ready to accept his challenge. "Let Kamat accept his in-capability in maintaining the ring road clean, and we are ready to accept his challenge," Coutinho said.
He further said that whenever someone gets caught dumping waste, then the MLA should ensure that the culprit is fined.
“The MLA, who wants Savio Coutinho to nab the people throwing waste, finds it wiser to spend Rs 84,000 per month from the municipal funds on the wages of four municipal workers to guard the barricades at both the ends of the ring road,” he said.
He added: “Instead of spending Rs 84,000 per month on the workers, install four CCTV cameras which will be a one-time investment of around Rs 40,000. And whoever gets caught on camera, should be fined heavily."
