PERNEM
Locals in Pernem have threatened to halt work on the national highway if service roads connecting villages are not completed.
They conveyed their sentiments when Deputy Chief Minister Babu Ajgaonkar, PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar and contractors inspected the highway work.
The unhappy locals pointed out that various service roads at Patradevi, Torsem, Ugvem, Poraskade, Malpe, Virnoda and Dhargal had become too dangerous to travel.
When officials said land for the highway had been acquired and that, additional land would be needed for the service roads which could take at least a year, the locals became agitated and threatened to halt work on the highway.
A local farmer, Jagannath Desai, complained to Ajgaonkar that the contractor had been offloading mud into the fields and causing loss to the farmers.
Ajgaonkar then directed the contractor to remove the mud and also asked him to pay compensation to farmers.
Later speaking to reporters, Ajgaonkar said he fully supported the demand of locals for the completion of service roads.
"I will also support them in their threat to halt work of highway in protest if service roads are not completed,” said Ajgaonkar.
When reporters sought to know why Pauskar had left the inspection midway, Ajgaonkar clarified that the PWD minister had to leave on account of an urgent meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
