OLD GOA
With over seven months gone and no sign of repairs to the collapsed retaining wall near the Santan Church, the locals have served a seven-day ultimatum to the PWD to begin the process of repairs failing, which they have warned that they will gherao the PWD office.
The locals who gathered near the site after the Sunday mass informed how they have been made to suffer because the road has been closed for four-wheeler traffic ever since the wall collapsed. “We have waited long enough for the PWD to initiate the repair works, and now our patience has run out,” a local informed.
“We are made to go through long routes to reach Old Goa and other areas, which were earlier accessible in a shorter time,” another local added.
Later, AAP leader Ramrao Wagh served a seven-day ultimatum to the PWD to initiate the process of repairing the retaining wall. “If the PWD fails to do so, then we will be forced to gherao the PCE office,” Wagh forewarned.
The locals have further warned that they will also close the road for two-wheeler traffic. “Currently, the two-wheelers are using the road. But, if our demand is not met, then we will force closure of the road for two-wheelers as well,” the local said.
The locals also said that the church feast will be celebrated in July, and the PWD should ensure that the wall is repaired before that.
Curca deputy sarpanch Vinesh Adpaikar urged CM Pramod Sawant to look into the matter and begin the repairs at the earliest so that the suffering of the locals is eased. Panch Maria da Cunha also spoke.
