Alfred Fernandes
alfred@herald-goa.com
SANGUEM: The lone culvert leading to Mugoli ward of Uguem village panchayat and Kamtibag ward of Sanguem Municipal Council is totally in a bad condition and needs immediate reconstruction.
The culvert, constructed over 35 years back, is almost on the verge of collapse and needs urgent attention and necessary action from the government authorities.
Panchayat member of Uguem Village Panchayat Uday Narba Dessai told Herald that he has recently visited the area and has conducted a site inspection of the old culvert. Dessai said that the culvert is in a very bad condition and the issue will soon be taken up at the panchayat meeting. He said that it has also been brought to the notice of the Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar for necessary action in the matter.
On account of non maintenance of the culvert on regular basis, the concrete of the culvert underneath the bridge has given way at many places. Moreover the iron rods used in the construction of the bridge are exposed to weather and are seen protruding at many places thereby increasing the fears allayed by the villagers that the culvert is on the verge of facing a collapse in the near future.
Former panchayat member Subhash Gaonkar also echoed the feelings expressed by Uday Narba Dessai. Gaonkar said that in the event of the culvert facing a collapse, the villagers residing at Mugoli and Kamtibag will be totally detached from the Sanguem Town area as the culvert forms the sole link for the villagers to proceed to the town area.
Gaonkar said ever since the culvert was constructed, there has been no proper maintenance of the bridge. Gaonkar has urged the authorities to take timely action in the matter considering the fact that the culvert is the sole connecting link for the villagers to traverse to adjoining villages and the town area.
