MARGAO/PANJIM: Residents and commuters in various parts of Goa are bracing for a challenging monsoon, with many roads still unrepaired after being dug up for public utility purposes. Despite instructions from the District Administration, concerns are mounting as the relevant departments and contractors appear to be sidestepping their responsibilities.
The Public Works Department (PWD) remains optimistic about completing the levelling of dug roads across Goa by May 31, the deadline set by the district administration to complete all road infrastructure work. However, residents continue to face difficulties, unable to remove their vehicles due to unrepaired roads in front of their houses, dug up for sewerage work, gas pipelines, and power cabling.
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Shailesh Naik, a resident from the North district, expressed frustration over the lack of coordination between concerned departments, resulting in prolonged road restoration works. “The road that was dug up in front of my house has still not been levelled or tarred, resulting in major hardships even to leave the house,” he complained.
Activist Roland Martins, convenor of GOACAN, emphasised the need for PWD officials to conduct on-site inspections to ensure contractors comply with road restoration conditions after digging. “The problem is that PWD officials are not visiting these roads and checking for compliance. It is their responsibility. Now, what is most important is that the officials of the department visit the site and take reports and submit it to the collector,” he stated.
He urged local bodies to intervene and report incomplete works to the Collector’s office.
Damodar Shirodkar, Chairperson of the Margao Municipal Council, held the concerned department accountable for the failure to restore dug roads promptly. “It is only because of the lack of seriousness on the part of the government authorities that the general public has to face hardships,” Shirodkar remarked.
Uttam Parsekar, Principal Chief Engineer of the PWD, clarified that contractors are responsible for levelling dug roads as per contract conditions. “Instructions in this regard have already been issued to the concerned officials of the PWD. The roads should be filled and levelled so that traffic can move without any difficulties, and this task should be carried out by the agencies or departments responsible for digging the roads,” he clarified. Parsekar added that these conditions are communicated before granting permission for road digging.
