PANAJI
The State government is expected to file an application for an extension of the timeline to complete the 150-metre road stretch from the Taad-Maad temple in St Inez to the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Tonca. This road portion has garnered attention after the collapse of a newly constructed drain on Monday morning, incident that occurred during deep excavation work.
At the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation on Tuesday, Advocate General Devidas Pangam conveyed to the Bombay High Court at Goa that an application seeking an extension in time for this specific stretch will be submitted on Wednesday.
While the Bench adjourned the matter for further hearing to June 18, the IPSCDL Chief General Manager Eduardo Pereira, in a compliance report stated that the closure of the 150m road does not cause inconvenience to the general public, citing alternative arrangements. However, the IPSCDL’s report does not make any reference to the drain collapse.
“…the closure of this stretch of 150m from Tadmad (Taad-Maad) temple upto the Bridge near STP (Tonca), does not cause any major inconvenience to the general public as alternate arrangements have been made thereby ensuring access to every major, minor and standalone residential units, commercial units, institutional buildings,” reads the report submitted to the Court during the hearing on Tuesday.
The IPSCDL official further claimed that with regards to works in Central Panaji covering 3.5km road, the carriageway has been made functional and operational whereas in St Inez, work at 2.85 km road length is complete.
“With respect to the St Inez sector, the road works encompassed a road span 3.0km. Of this entire length, the work has been completed for a stretch of 2.85 km and the carriageway of this stretch of the road has been made functional and operational. With respect to the balance 150m “ from Tadmad Temple upto the Bridge near the Sewerage Treatment Plant, the work is presently under progress. Twenty-five per cent of the work is pending…” it added.
Incidentally, just before the hearing, the road near Panaji market saw cave-ins. The IPSCDL has once again come under public criticism for failing to complete the work despite the deadline.
