THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Bus commuters and local residents had to contend with dust pollution on Thursday as the authorities got the Margao bus stand relocated to a makeshift area near the Ravindra bhavan, Margao to pave way for erection of a massive pandal at the bus stand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vikasit Bharat rally in the city here on February 6.
As both inter and intra-state buses made it to the makeshift bus stand or left the place for their destinations, the vehicles sent clouds of dust in the air. The fortunate amongst the commuters, who were equipped with masks, breathed easy with the face masks.
Hundreds of commuters, including students, besides KTC staff and staff of the private buses had to contend with dust throughout the morning session after the bus stand was shifted to the makeshift place at midnight as per the notification issued by South Goa Collector, Asvin Chandru.
That buses, both KTC and Private buses, besides inter-state buses, descending or leaving the makeshift bus stand on the SAG-acquired ground would kick up dust was evident on the eve of the bus stand shifting for want of proper compaction of the recently-filled up acquired land.
A KTC official conceded that dust pollution is an issue which was not factored in the scheme of things when a decision was taken to shift the bus stand to a makeshift site. “Since dust pollution is a reality at the makeshift site, adequate measures would have to be initiated to mitigate the pollution by spraying water on the filled up land”, he said.
The KTC official further said that face masks have been requisitioned for the Corporation staff deployed for work at the makeshift bus stand.
A senior PWD engineer pointed out that the KTC will have to handle the dust pollution aspect at the makeshift bus stand, saying the PWD has made available all basic amenities at the makeshift bus stand, including sanitation.
Authorities said the situation will improve for the better on Day two with a number of steps initiated to make the makeshift bus stand commuter friendly.
