SANGUEM: The excavation of mud barely metres away from the side-walls of the already weak Uguem bridge in Sanguem have left villagers worried over the safety of the bridge.
It is pertinent to note that the bridge built during the Portuguese regime at Uguem is the only link for the villagers of Uguem, Bhati, Neturlim, Villian and other adjoining areas to Sanguem town.
If the Uguem bridge collapses, villagers from Uguem and other adjoining areas would be cut from Sanguem town and result in great hardship for the villagers wishing to reach their workplaces and educational institutions.
Unfortunately, a large crack has already developed on one of the side-wall of the bridge, making villagers all the more worried over the safety of the bridge.
Incidentally, to make matters worse, a pipeline contractor who was allocated the work of laying pipeline to draw raw water from Selaulim Dam to Wadem has excavated the loose mud barely metres away from the bridge.
Worried villagers informed this correspondent that the process of excavation of loose mud endangered a portion of the road and the bridge, which could collapse.
A villager Philip Furtado pointed out that with no sign-boards in place, there were possibilities of vehicles being driven right into the rivulet, as the cutting was resorted close to the main road, almost touching it.
Another villager Inacio Fernandes complained bitterly of the haphazard excavation of the loose mud around the bridge, without considering the safety of the bridge built during Portuguese regime.
What makes the matter worse is the fact that the contractor has also left a large amount of loose mud on the bank of the rivulet, which the villagers fear would run into water, leading to silting of Uguem river.
Uguem villagers have urged the authorities to caution the pipeline contractor, while simultaneously directing the contractor to construct a retaining wall towards the excavated portion of the loose mud.
