the goan I network
PANAJI
In a sweeping order, the State administration has imposed a total ban on digging of roads including national highways, state highways, major district roads, thoroughfares, road-shoulders and lanes in view of the dangers such digging can pose to motorists and pedestrians during the monsoon.
The 60-day ban on road digging was imposed in the whole of North Goa by an order issued by the District Magistrate, R Meneka (IAS) by invoking provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
During these 60 days starting May 15 (Wednesday), only the Public Works Department and Electricity Department will be granted permission to dig roads only for ‘urgent repairs’ to power cables and water pipelines related to public utility services.
Menaka said in her order that such emergency digging shall be covered within less than six hours and properly paved/cemented within 24 hours.
Prior written permission will have to be obtained from the Collector by any agency, government department, local body, public-sector undertaking if there is urgency to dig or cut any road for any reason.
The order gains significance in light of the chaos often being experienced along Goa’s highways due to ongoing construction work related
to the eight-lane Zuari bridge and the related approaches along NH-66 (formerly NH-17) across the length of the State from North to South.
Motorists and commuters, particularly daily office-goers, have faced the brunt of the chaos on virtually all the roads for nearly three years as the government has successively launched works at various geographical locations on both national highways which dissect the length and breadth of the State.
Meanwhile, Menaka has ordered publicising the road-digging ban on notice boards at all taluka headquarters, mamlatdar offices and police stations in North Goa.
Those violating the order will be booked and punished under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code which entails a fine and/or jail term of up to one month, Menaka warned in the order.
