THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO
Criticising the contractor for suggesting the closure of highway between Cortalim Circle and Sharayu Toyota showroom for about a year to complete the bridge works, the Cortalim Panchayat has threatened to move the court if the government goes ahead with the traffic diversion plans. The residents put forth their grievances at a special gram sabha on Sunday morning which was attended by a large number of residents.
Residents also claimed that Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha had been ineffective in the matter and alleged that the builder had damaged a lot of roads, pipelines and cables and despite that, had been safeguarded by the government.
Cortalim Dy Sarpanch Raymond de Sa criticised the builder for causing hardships to people and to make matters worse, had suggested the closure of highway between Cortalim Circle and Sharayu Toyota showroom for about a year to complete the bridge works.
“Residents of Cortalim were alarmed after news broke out about the proposed traffic diversion. We immediately convened a special gram sabha and also invited our MLA Alina Saldanha. But now, she has informed that she will convene a joint meeting with government officials, panchayat, builder and public,” said de Sa.
“We feel the bridge work can be carried out without closing the highway just like the Mandovi bridge work. The builders have to make a service road and they have been paid for it in the tender. Farmers have not been compensated for the slurry discharged in the fields and they have also damaged gutters near the ferry point. One road has been destroyed by the builder and despite several letters, they don’t respond,” said de Sa.
“We will not allow the highway to be closed and all panchayats concerned will unite to oppose this move. If this demand is not met, we will file a writ petition in the high court,” the deputy sarpanch warned.
A resident, Jude Pereira, claimed that the builder had disregarded the Cortalim MLA on many occasions and was being safeguarded by the government.
“Saldanha has been a failure and DBL has disregarded her completely. We have got her thrice to inspect the road, but none of the problems have been addressed till now. The highway has been a problem ever since the builder began the work. They are talking about traffic diversion and nobody is bothered about the hardships to the people,” said Pereira.
Another resident, Manu Fernandes, said a PIL was the only option to oppose any plans to divert traffic.
“As a contractor, they must have guidelines to have service road, signals, speed breakers but they are not doing it and no authority is questioning them. The government is not even giving any RTI information regarding this contractor,” said Fernandes.
