I expected that Panjim’s new Mayor Uday Madkaikar and the new CM Dr Pramod Sawant to stop all digging operations in the City in view of forthcoming elections but what I see is that the work is still going on either by cable operators especially BSNL and the PWD. This is against the orders from Election Commissioner who appears to be powerless?
I was surprised that the digging work is going on by BSNL and PWD near City Telephone Exchange at the circle in the Church Square area. I would like to comment on this jobs, which are substandard as I am technically sound on such works as I have worked on splicing of underwater cables beyond 500 metres for water dept during my earlier days for oceanographic deep sea surveys. I say that these people are just carrying out work without any proper training and that too with bad kits and tools. If such a work continues then these faults will tend to occur. When I questioned on their expertise with these splicing workers they blame the other department for damaging these cables and add that their department does not provide them with proper tools and materials. Fine, they may be correct, but their skills need to be questioned. Whether trained or not, these workers are carrying out such works without the supervision of experts.
Upon enquiry I was told that the damaged cable having over 800 pairs laid from Altinho telephone exchange passes through this faulty site and proceeds towards the bank area. The photo shows how these workers are made to work to dig in such bad conditions when there is ban during the elections. It appears that nobody bothers to respect the orders from Election authorities and may be the court. We, the citizens of Panjim are made to suffer after paying heavy taxes to the Government as these roads are forever in bad condition.
