SALIGAO: The work of converting the existing overhead power line into an underground cabling system by the government has caused severe damage to roads across Saligao.
Stretches in different areas such as Betim, Vollant, Verem, Nerul, Kegdevelim etc are in totally bad shape as the roads cut for laying cables have not been restored by the government appointed contractor, causing great risk and inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians
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At some stretches, tarred roads have been cut from the centre where massive potholes have developed as a result of which there is not enough space for the movement of vehicles from both ends simultaneously.
Locals fear that severe road accidents including fatal ones may occur if the roads are not repaired at the earliest.
Dr Silvano Sapeco, a local resident informed that the Gram Sabha of Reis-Magos Village Panchayat on May 22, 2023 had passed a resolution that the repair of road within the Panchayat jurisdiction should be done before the onset of the monsoon. However, this plea fell on deaf ears.
“The road conditions have become pathetic and non motorable. Frequently accidents take place, fortunately no fatal accident has happened so far. I humbly plead to the District Magistrate, Electricity department, PWD, and the local Sarpanch to take cognizance and do something concrete and not just patch work which according to me is a cheating exercise,” Dr Sapeco said.
Antonio Velho, a 79-year-old resident of Reis-Magos said that the work of underground cabling was implemented without proper planning by the Electricity Department.
“The damaged road stretches are causing inconvenience to motorists and have also become dangerous for pedestrians. You can’t even go for a walk,” he said.
Another local resident Atul Naik said, “The roads in Saligao are in extremely bad condition and posing danger to motorists. The residents had petitioned the local MLA to ensure that the damaged roads are restored, we had also met the engineers concerned but nobody was ready to listen to our grievance. We don’t know why the Electricity department is harassing the people of Saligao.”
When contacted Bento Barreto, Assistant Engineer concerned of the electricity department said “The restoration works of roads are going on in Saligao. Due to heavy rainfall, we couldn’t undertake the work as desired. But now as rain has subsided the work has resumed in full swing. Currently the work of road soling is being undertaken. We will restore all affected stretches.”
When reached out to Saligao MLA Kedar Naik for a comment on this issue, he responded through text message stating that he is “out of station”.
