Margao: After a huge retaining wall of the Xelpem-Sanguem JICA project collapsed recently, doubts have been raised over the quality of the works undertaken by JICA across Goa.
Torrential rains during Chavath resulted in the collapse of the 10-meter long retaining wall. The wall had been built just one month ago, and the company that built this wall still hasn’t been paid for the work.
The wall had collapsed on the road that leads to the pump house. To hide the incident, the contractor had quickly engaged labourers to clear the debris and constructed another wall at the same place. JICA has spent crores of rupees on this project, while hills have been cut for the same.
PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar and journalists had inspected the Xelpem project, while the then project director A M Wachasundar had also approved of the quality of the project works. The locals have now demanded that Dhavalikar take cognizance of the wall collapse incident.
When asked about the incident, Principal Engineer Kerkar stated, “I don’t know anything about it, but we will find out what exactly has happened there.”
Meanwhile, Sanguem, MLA Subhash Faldessai stated, “JICA has completed works worth Rs 400 crores for this project in Xelpem. The retaining wall was built in a hurry after I pointed out in the Assembly that lakhs of tonnes of mud was flowing into the water canal of the Selaulim Dam. The work has no quality.”
