With no official action despite repeated appeals, residents take up voluntary repair work
Villagers from São José de Areal gathered near the old culvert as repair work began to restore the structure.
MARGAO
In a strong display of community spirit, residents of São José de Areal have come together to repair a damaged culvert near the village’s historic Portuguese-era bridge.
The ageing structure had shown clear signs of weakening in recent months, with steel rods visible from underneath. This raised serious safety concerns among locals. Despite several requests to the authorities, no repair work had been taken up, prompting villagers to act on their own.
Social activist Freddy Travasso, who is leading the effort, said the work is being carried out voluntarily by residents to prevent further damage. “We had informed the authorities about the poor condition of the culvert, but no action was taken. So the villagers decided to come together and do the repairs themselves,” he said on Sunday.
He said he was pleased that work had finally started, calling it a good example of public participation and civic responsibility.
“The residents have shown great unity and concern for public infrastructure. We are happy that the restoration work has begun,” he added.
Travasso also urged the authorities to conduct a technical inspection of the structure and consider raising its height. He said a higher culvert would help improve water flow during the monsoon and reduce the risk of flooding and waterlogging in nearby areas.
The villagers now hope the authorities will take note of their efforts and plan long-term measures to strengthen the structure and ensure the safety of commuters and residents.
