the goan I network
MAPUSA
Despite North Goa collector’s recent order prohibiting digging and excavations along roads, digging activity was going on by the roadside in Siolim-Sodiem on Saturday.
A large pit was being dug right on the shoulder of the road near the Holy Cross School along the Siolim-Sodiem thoroughfare.
Locals informed The Goan about digging activity especially when the onset of monsoon was just weeks away.
Sources informed that the digging activity was being carried out by an Indian-based telecom company to lay its fiber optic cable in the village.
A HD drilling machine was also parked by the side of the main road a little further from the digging activity.
Sources further said that the telecom company has already acquired permission for digging much before the ban on digging work due to approaching monsoon was issued by the collector.
It may be recalled the State administration had imposed a total ban on digging of roads including national highways, major district roads, thoroughfares, road-shoulders and lanes in view of the dangers as 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 North Goa Collector, R Meneka (IAS) by invoking provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
As per the order only PWD and Power department will be granted permission to dig roads for urgent repairs to power cables and water pipelines during these 60 days beginning from May 15.
