VASCO
Locals of Hollant have been aggrieved ever since a bridge in fairly good condition was demolished, while a new bridge has been delayed by several months, despite several reminders to the local MLA and other authorities.
Locals who prefer the shorter route, had to hop perilously over loosely placed stones in a stream, instead of walking an extra 2 kms to get to the main road on the other side.
Lawrence Rodrigues, former Velsao-Pale sarpanch and resident of Hollant, took up the initiative of constructing a temporary footbridge for locals of Hollant to cross the stream and attend the novenas at the chapel.
According to reports, the unhappy residents got together at the chapel on Tuesday and later met Rodrigues to find a way out to cross the stream.
"It was indeed the blessings of Our Lady of Vailankani that I recollected a strong ramp lying idle near the house of Surya Naik. During my tenure as sarpanch, I had built a temporary footbridge next to his house till permanent arrangements were done," Rodrigues told The Goan.
"I immediately put up a proposal to the residents and all of them agreed to set up a similar footbridge. Accordingly, a footbridge was built in quick time with the help of all residents," he added.
Locals expressed their gratitude to Rodrigues for his initiative to have the footbridge constructed.
"This footbridge will now be used by residents to attend novenas as well as children going to school. A similar footbridge could easily have been built by authorities, but we thank Lawrence for his initiative. The people proved that they can find solutions if they unite on such occasions, when authorities concerned do not offer any help," said a senior citizen.
According to another local, Theresa Periera, locals were united in getting the makeshift footbridge ready before the novenas. "We even double-checked the ramp for its strength. If elected panch cannot solve such important local issues, they must not contest elections," said Pereira.
