MARGAO
Departing from the well-established practice of capping road digging in the commercial capital during monsoons, the government has given relaxation for JICA sewerage project, but parents question the rationale behind taking up work from the Comba railway crossing to the nearby educational hub when the same could have been taken up during the Ganesh Chathurti vacation.
Beleaguered parents, who undergo the ordeal while dropping their wards to the educational institutions, especially when the railway
crossing is closed for vehicular traffic, lamented that the district authorities have allowed road digging on the narrow road on the western side of the Comba railway crossing. "As it is, the road to the educational hub is so narrow that it becomes difficult for two cars to pass at the same time. Just imagine that half the portion of the road will be blocked for road digging for the JICA sewerage works," a parent from Benaulim told The Goan.
Another parent observed that they are not against the laying of the underground sewerage network, but felt that the work could have been started during the week long Ganesh Chathurti vacation. "Taking up the work during the Ganesh Chathurti vacation would have served the purpose of both the JICA agency as well as saved the parents from the traffic snarls," observed another parent.
When The Goan sought find out the reasons for the commencement of road digging activity in the commercial capital during the monsoon period, senior district Collectorate officials pointed out that outgoing district Collector had granted relaxation for JICA works in the city based on a representation received from PWD, Sewerage.
Sources in the know said the District Collector Swapnil Naik had given his consent for the road digging activity after the Principal Chief Engineer, PWD issued a circular containing the government's decision directing the two Collectors to give relaxation to the JICA project. The circular stated that ongoing JICA works in the two district would continue without interruption during the monsoon as long as such works are carried out with least disturbance to traffic and the public.
Incidentally, the road from the railway crossing to the educational hub had to be excavated on Monday after the activity damaged an underground water pipeline, disrupting the movement of traffic.
Another parent observed that they are not against the laying of the underground sewerage network, but felt that the work could have been started during the week long Ganesh Chathurti vacation. "Taking up the work during the Ganesh Chathurti vacation would have served the purpose of both the JICA agency as well as saved the parents from the traffic snarls," observed another parent.
When The Goan sought find out the reasons for the commencement of road digging activity in the commercial capital during the monsoon period, senior district Collectorate officials pointed out that outgoing district Collector had granted relaxation for JICA works in the city based on a representation received from PWD, Sewerage.
Sources in the know said the District Collector Swapnil Naik had given his consent for the road digging activity after the Principal Chief Engineer, PWD issued a circular containing the government's decision directing the two Collectors to give relaxation to the JICA project. The circular stated that ongoing JICA works in the two district would continue without interruption during the monsoon as long as such works are carried out with least disturbance to traffic and the public.
Incidentally, the road from the railway crossing to the educational hub had to be excavated on Monday after the activity damaged an underground water pipeline, disrupting the movement of traffic.
