Villagers and activists demanding a rethink on the project.
MARGAO
The beautification project launched in Orlim by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) along a pathway passing near the Church came under the scanner of villagers and activists after the retaining wall under construction has tilted and gave way, while cracks surfaced on the pathway along the stretch.
Local villagers and activists have slammed the contractor, consultant and the GSIDC for executing the project in a shoddy manner without taking into account the environmental safeguards in the low-lying area, and causing loss to the tax payers. Saying that the project was bulldozed despite reservations raised by the villagers, the people demanded that the GSIDC should clear the debris and structure and restore the place to its original condition.
A good portion of the retaining wall was found tilted on one side and the surface dotted with cracks after Tuesday’s heavy showers. Orlim Priest Fr Roger, former Sarpanch Gaundencio Luis, activist Kim Miranda and others rushed to the site only to find the retaining wall giving way due to the rains.
Fr Roger demanded to know who will shoulder the responsibility for the shoddy work carried out on the beautification project as the work has destroyed the local ecology and environment. “My question to the contractor, engineers and the supervisors whether they have built the wall without the knowledge of the local ecology and environment experts”, Fr Roger questioned.
Claiming that the contractor was nowhere seen after the first showers, he said the engineers and the supervisors ought to have maintained vigil over the work from time to time in view of the rains. “It is clear that the wall collapsed due to waterlogging as there was no supervision. The work was executed with the tax payer’s money. This village belongs to the local people. Who will take the responsibility for the situation and the waste of public money”, he said, while demanding accountability.
Local activist Kim Miranda said the wall has given way since there was no application of mind as the project was being executed in a water catchment area. “We don’t want this project. Let them take the debris and clear the place immediately”, she said.
Former Sarpanch Gaundencio Luis said the beautification project was thrust upon the people when it was clear that it will disturb the ecology of the place. “The nature has replied back to the ill-conceived project in its own way”, he added.
Benaulim-based architect and activist Royla Fernandes demanded that the GSIDC, the contractor and the consultant should be held responsible for the situation. “The contractor should not be paid the money. Since the same contractor is doing the beautification work in Benaulim also, the GSIDC should immediately check the work at Benaulim as well”, she demanded,.
Contractor will have to bear the
cost of reconstruction: GSIDC
MARGAO: The Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) general manager Jude Carvalho said the contractor, who has been awarded the Orlim beautification project, will have to reconstruct the wall at his own cost.
“Consultants have been appointed to supervise the work. Prima facie It appears that the retaining wall has tilted due to hydrostatic pressure exerted on the under construction retaining wall, due to incessant rains. In the absence of adequate number of weep holes, which relieve the hydrostatic pressure, the wall has tilted”, he said.
Carvalho said the second possibility is that weep holes that have been provided may have got clogged. “Non provision of adequate number of weep holes is a lapse on the part of Consultants & Contractor. A simple exercise of providing adequate weep holes as per IS code would have prevented this incident & loss to the Contractor. Now the Contractor has to reconstruct the wall at his own cost”, he said.
As regards other issue that is viral on social media, he said the GSIDC have not encroached in any water body. “There was an existing bund which people use as a pedestrian pathway to go to the Church. The retaining walls were required because the formation level was raised, so that the pathway is usable even in monsoons. In fact huge cross drainages have been provided, whereas the ones those existing were very small”, he said.
Referring to another video showing somebody breaking concrete, he said, “That is not part of retaining wall. It is plain cement concrete which serves as a levelling course, over which paver blocks will be laid”.
