the goan I network
MARGAO
Twenty-one days after cyclonic winds brought down the advertising gantry along the Margao KTC-Old market circle road, the gantry is again back at the very same location, leaving many a question unanswered -- whether any of the authorities, right from the district Collector to the PWD, NH or SGPDA, Margao Municipal Council or the District Disaster Management Authority had ever tried to find out how the gantry had come crashing down and whether the present structure with nuts
and bolts will withstand cyclonic winds in the ensuing monsoon.
When The Goan sought to find out from the PWD, National Highway officials whether any study was undertaken by the office to ascertain the reason behind the collapse of the gantry, an official replied in the negative, directing this reporter to seek details from Executive Engineer, Rajendra Kamat. Kamat, however, was not available on the phone.
Questions are being raised how come the gantry has made a comeback at the same spot without undertaking any study over the causes behind the collapse. MMC Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes, when contacted admitted that the civic body did not call for any report from the National Highways over the collapse of the gantry. And, if sources are to be believed the district disaster management authority too did not call for a report from expert agencies on the causes behind the incident on May 10.
When The Goan called up the TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, in whose constituency the gantry has been put up by the NH, to justify the re-erection of the gantry when it would had ended in a disaster had the gantry fallen on a moving vehicle or human being, he feigned ignorance to the fact that the gantry has made a comeback. When the Minister was asked whether the agencies had carried out any structural stability of the structure when it had come crashing down on the main road in the wee hours of May 10, Sardesai agreed that the incident should have been investigated by the agencies to ensure that it does not collapse again by the force of winds.
He, however, said that instructions will be issued to the SGPDA member Dr Renuka Da Silva, MMC CO Johnson Fernandes and PWD, National Highways to find out the cause behind the incident and steps taken to avoid any tragedy in the future.
