Effort to restore battered Mapusa roads appears bleak
THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
It’s very likely that roads in Mapusa won’t be repaired any time soon, as ongoing sewerage works are likely to spill well into the monsoon and beyond.
Despite all assurances from PWD and officials of the Simplex Infrastructures Ltd, who bagged the contract to lay the sewerage line, the work appears to be doomed for another round of delay.
Roads that were excavated in the past to lay sewerage pipelines have been dug up again to either fix the chambers or the inspection pits.
According to PWD sources, the delay in the work has been mainly because works have been contracted to different agencies by Simplex.
The company has appointed a contractor only to lay sewerage pipelines, another one to fix the chambers and yet another to construct connection pits.
Sources also told The Goan that the topography of the town has been a cause of concern for the contractors, along with pressure of some restless local motorists.
“The topography of the town has been a problem, but that’s not an issue. We are trying hard to finish most of our work within the deadline,” said Simplex assistant engineer, Atanu Das.
He also said that the company was coordinating with Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA), which is carrying out beautification works at many areas in the town.
At the moment, major works on road digging have been going on at Gaunsavaddo and Dattawadi, while roads in other parts of the town like the market road from Union Pharmacy up to the Milagres Church, has been dug, closed and reopened a number of times.
The GSUDA has also been accused of carelessness, as workers belonging to the agency have been carrying out beautification works at several other areas by disrupting normal life and leading to chaotic scenes in the town.
Residents of Gaunsavaddo have been living in great hardship for close to a month, as the only road connecting their homes has been dug up for the sewerage line.
Although most part of the pipe laying activity has been completed, it will take quite some time to restore the road, as work to construct inspection pits is yet to begin.
“We have to be very careful while walking on the road let alone ride, since the road is very narrow and with the digging, it has turned into a nightmare,” a resident said.
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THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA: The contractor engaged in laying the sewerage pipeline in Dattawadi-Mapusa has broken water pipelines at several places and even disrupted the recently laid optical cable laid by a private telecom company.
In an action that shows a disconnect between departments and agencies, the contractors of a private telecom company cut open the road to lay its optical cable underground.
Now, the contractor engaged in sewerage work has cut open the same road and disrupted the newly laid optical cable. Some domestic water pipelines were also broken in the process.
Mapusa Municipal Council Chairperson Sandeep Falari has said that he has been constantly monitoring the sewerage work with authorities concerned.
“We have told the sewerage officials to complete the patch up work by April 15. After that, we will undertake the resurfacing of the roads,” Falari said.
