the goan I network
PORVORIM
With the Saligao panchayat promising a temporary footbridge at Aradi but failing to act quick enough, residents from two wards finally formed an association, collected funds and constructed their own temporary footbridge over the nullah to allow people to cross over the collapsed culvert.
Following the collapse of the culvert near the cemetery in May, authorities had failed to build a new culvert and desperate to make use of the shorter route to go to the Saligao church and Calangute, residents of Aradi had laid three coconut tree logs across the collapsed culvert.
Walking over the logs was, however, fraught with danger as pedestrians risked losing their balance and falling into the nullah.
When the matter was highlighted in The Goan, Saligao Sarpanch Lafira Gomes had said the panchayat was aware of difficulties faced by residents of Aradi after the culvert collapsed in May and added that the panchayat had initiated steps to construct a new culvert.
Admitting that government procedures were time-consuming, Gomes said the panchayat would make efforts to lay a temporary fabricated structure over the nullah to alleviate the problems of the residents of Aradi.
However, unhappy with the Saligao panchayat for failing to act on its assurance of a temporary footbridge quickly enough, residents decided to act on their own.
Speaking to media persons, a local, Mario Cordeiro, said the culvert at Aradi had collapsed in May.
“Despite a request to Saligao Panchayat to construct a new culvert or make temporary arrangements for the convenience of school children and residents, the panchayat did not act.”
“As a result, residents from Wards 8 and 9 got together and formed an association called ‘We the people’. They then collected funds and constructed a temporary footbridge within three days over the nullah at Aradi. This footbridge was inaugurated by two senior women citizens of Aradi,” Cordeiro said.
“The panchayat could have done this work in quick time had they desired. ‘We The People’ will now be a non-political organisation to solve problems of the residents of Aradi,” Cordeiro added.
Saligao Panch members of Ward 8 and 9, Jack Coelho and Sraddha Borkar said the panchayat had taken up the matter with Housing Minister and Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar, who had directed the PWD to do the needful.
PWD engineers had surveyed the area and said it would not be advisable to
construct a new culvert during the rainy season, but agreed to take up the project after the rains, the panch members said.
