Team Herald
QUEPEM: Locals from Quepem have questioned and criticised the indifference of the Water Resources Department (QRD) for leaving a water tank open without any cover at Karali, Quepem.
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Pointing out that this is unsafe; they spoke about the recent incident, where a person from Kusman village lost his life by drowning at this spot.
Gaurish Verekar said the incident was very sad and could have been avoided. He also feared that there could be accidents at this spot given that another two-wheeler rider had already fallen in the same water tank but had survived.
Local councillor Amol Kanekar said WRD should come forward quickly and do an inspection and carry out the much-needed repair work at the earliest to ensure the safety of the public.
He pointed out that the large tank is located right on the border of the road and is nearly 5 metres deep and that the road doesn’t even have a boundary wall etc to protect the passerby and commuters.
Quepem Municipal Council Chairperson Dayesh naik said that they had already spoken to the PWD roads department as the water tank comes within the setback area of the road. He said he had asked the PWD to make urgent arrangements to cover the water tank. When the WRD Quepem Assistant Engineer Nitin Gaitonde was contacted, he said it belongs to the Division 2 WRD Department, Rawanfond and so it is ‘their responsibility’.
Quepem PWD Roads Department, Assistant Engineer Chanada Parwar agreed that the water tank comes within the setback of PWD roads department but that the WRD department never took permission for building the tank in this area, so they are responsible for this.
Quepem Deputy Collector Nilesh Dhaigodkar, said he had already issued directions to the departments concerned to ensure that steps are taken to ensure safety around the tank in view of the recent incident.
