CANACONA
Stating that all potholes on roads across the State would be repaired within a month, PWD and Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar has warned that the government would recover the entire cost from contractors if roads are not maintained during the stipulated period.
Various public grievances pertaining to toilet tenders, roads and shortage of RTO officers in Canacona were put forth before Dhavalikar during his visit to Canacona on Saturday.
While interacting with locals at the Shristhal Rest House, Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes listed out a horde of griavances confronting the people of Canacona taluka on a daily basis.
When it was pointed out that the contractor was yet to fulfil the free-toilet tender, Dhavalikar quickly issued instructions to the officer present to follow rules and terminate the tender without delay.
Fernandes demanded that contractors be held responsible for maintenance of roads, especially the highway, after claiming that the most roads do not last even for six months after construction or repair.
"PWD should ensure details of a contractor and period of road maintenance is displayed at the work site, so that if anything happens during this period, the contractor is made responsible and accountable," Fernandes said.
Dhavalikar was quick to direct officers present to act as per rules on road construction or repair. He even went one step ahead and said, "If roads are not maintained during the stipulated period, the government will recover the entire costs from the contractor."
Blaming the extended monsoon for the inability to repair potholes, Dhavalikar sought a month's time to remove all potholes from roads in Canacona and across the State.
Dhavalikar also informed that short tender procedures to immediately undertake emergency works of up to Rs 5 lakh has been re-introduced.
"In this way, no such work will be hindered due to procedural delays in future," he said.
"There is, however, a major hitch of executing some major works due to GST, but the GST issue will be addressed very soon, as the chief minister and I are working out a solution on GST within the next 10 days."
Issues of shortage of RTO officers and public harassment at the RTO office, non-payment of PWD labourers for the last six months and the issue of fish cage culture at Chapoli Dam were other issues put forth before Dhavalikar.
Others present on the occasion included ZP (Poinguinim) Dr Pushpa Aiya, sarpanchas Devendra Naik (Shristhal), Umesh Gaonkar (Cotigao), Suman Gaonkar (Gaondongrim), councillors and panchas from Agonda, Shristhal, Gaondongrim, Poinguinim, Loliem-Polem and former CMC chairperson Simon Rebello.
PWD minister assures 24x7 water
supply to Canconkars by 2018
CANACONA: PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar has promised ‘Acche Din' for residents of Canacona, after assuring 24x7 water supply to each household by 2018.
Speaking after inspecting the 15 MLD treatment plant and Chapoli Dam on Saturday, Dhavalikar accepted the shortcomings and promised proper augmentation and utilization of available water resources in the coming months to provide 24-hour water supply to all households in Canacona taluka.
"Some residences not easily accessible due to higher location or some inaccessible households will be supplied water through tankers and costs would be adjusted through water bills," said Dhavalikar.
When The Goan raised a query about erratic water supply and that too, on alternate days, Dhavalikar said: "The present augmentation of water supply is improper and everything will be taken care of in due course of time."
"Canacona needs just about 8 MLD a day of water supply and we have 15 MLD treatment plants (5 MLD and 10 MLD) with ample availability of water. Everything will be streamlined and Canconkars can be assured of ‘Better Days' by 2018'," the minister added.
