PONDA
A retaining wall erected during the widening of the Bagal road in Mhalshi-Curti collapsed on Monday morning due to heavy rain.
A large amount of mud and stones from the widened road flowed into the plantations of many farmers and damaged them. Angry farmers are preparing to file a police complaint against the contractor.
Incidentally, the retaining wall which collapsed on Monday was constructed only a few months ago.
Meanwhile, another part of the retaining wall erected by the contractor is on the verge of collapse.
AT DHARGAL TOO
In another incident, a protection wall along the NH66 highway collapsed at Mahakhajan-Dhargal for the second time within a fortnight.
The incident occurred during a period of sparse traffic, narrowly averting a major tragedy. However, authorities had to close one side of the highway to facilitate debris removal efforts.
Locals have been critical of ongoing construction work at the NH66 highway in Pernem.
Taking cognisance of their concerns, locals said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, ministers, MLAs have inspected the highway and have promised that the issues would be resolved. The locals have complained that the government has not kept their promises till date.
Meanwhile, the Congress demanded action against the contractor of the NH66 for gross negligence, failure to take safety measures, and the shoddy work on the highway expansion work.
GPCC President Amit Patkar, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Aldona Adv. Carlos Ferreira, Quepem MLA Alton D’Costa and other party leaders inspected the landslide sites at Dhargal today.
The Congress leaders said they would raise the issue with the chief secretary and other government officials and threatened to explore legal options if the government failed to take action in the matter.
