Christanand Pednekar
QUEPEM: The daily commuters along the Tilamol-Curchorem road are facing visibly problem especially during the night due to shrubs and bushes grown on both sides of the road.
The pedestrians, who don’t find space on the road due to bushes, shrubs grown and paddy fields on both sides which are touching the road, are walking in the middle of the road, which is dangerous to life.
A Sonfator-Xeldem local, Manuel Clamente said, “There are many accidents taking place due to stray cattle which suddenly come on the road from the bushes or fields mostly during the night leading to accidents. These bushes and shrubs are affecting the commuters’ visibility at Sonfator, on the Tilamol-Curchorem road.”
Sarpanch of Xeldem Panchayat Caitan Lima said, “The work of maintenance and cleanliness of main roads is the responsibility of PWD Quepem. Every year our Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral looks after the maintenance work and clearing of the bushes from Tilamol to Curchorem road. But at present, I don’t know the exact work status.”
Joyel Fernandes, a Quepem local, who commutes daily on this road said that the clearing of roadside bushes and shrubs is very necessary for the safety of people because sometimes there is total darkness in the night due to non-functioning of streetlights mostly during rainy season.
PWD Assistant Engineer Quepem Chanda Parawar informed, “Yes, it comes within the setback of the roads. But still there is no estimate done for clearing of the bushes and shrubs work.”
He further stated that for this purpose, first we want to do an estimate and then send it to our main office for approval.
