the goan I network
MARGAO
After the January 16 midnight incident when a car with three occupants plunged into the River Sal at the Khareband bridge, Salcete Block Development Officer, Amitesh Shirwaikar has now issued a memorandum to the Benaulim panchayat to take up work of a retaining wall on priority.
In the memorandum issued to the Benaulim panchayat secretary following a petition made by GOACAN about the incident, the BDO has directed the village panchayat to take up the work under the village panchayat funds after following due procedure in order to avert any further incident.
The three occupants of the ill-fated car had a miraculous escaped after the vehicle plunged into the river for want of repairs or reconstruction of the damaged retaining wall and in the absence of a traffic island on the Benaulim side of the bridge.
In fact, two more vehicles had dived into the river Sal at the very same spot, with locals attributing the accidents to the damaged retaining wall along the banks of the river.
Referring to the news item in the Goan dated January 17, GOACAN had approached many a government department, including the PWD, roads and the Salcete BDO, saying it was important that the absence of a retaining wall and the need for a traffic junction be addressed at the earliest.
Moreover, GOACAN had stated both these issues are related to road safety and traffic management and need to be reviewed at the meeting of the South Goa District Road Safety Council.
