the goan I network
CANACONA
Angry members of the NGO ‘Jagrut Canconkars’ confronted PWD (National Highway) officials demanding an explanation for the collapse of the Gabion wall at the newly constructed 4-lane road in Maxem.
Members of ‘Jagrut Canconkars’ have demanded the immediate appointment of an Expert Committee to inspect the entire stretch of newly constructed 4-lane road between Char-Rasta and Maxem.
They warned the PWD officials that they would not allow continuation of the works or repair works of the collapsed Gabian wall, until inspection is carried out by an expert committee.
In the absence of PWD (Highway) Assistant Engineer Subhash Pagui, the ‘Jagrut Canconkars’ members confronted Junior Engineer Nagraj Adpaikar and warned the officials not to take Canconkars for granted.
‘There is certainly a lack of proper supervision by PWD/NHAI over the works carried out by the contractor,” a ‘Jagrut Canconkar’ member bluntly told the PWD officer.
The PWD has blamed the contractor for the collapse of the Gabion wall.
PWD (Highway) officials are reported to have informed the agitators that they wrote to the contractor on July 13 regarding the condition of the road at the Maxem Creek, but did not hear anything from the contractor.
It may be recalled that about 50 metres of the Gabion wall collapsed in the Maxem creek on Sunday morning.
Residents and environmentalists have demanded removal of the mud dumped in the river to construct the road and have, instead, insisted on extending the bridge over Maxem creek by 2 additional spans.
Meanwhile, earthmoving machinery has been moved to the site of the collapsed portion and work is reportedly underway to undertake repair work. Environmentalists have also objected to the repair of this road, demanding first the removal of mud from the river portion.
