CANACONA: Most of the culverts on internal roads that were built immediately after Goa was liberated are in a precarious and dilapidated state all over Canacona, and if not stabilised or reconstructed in time it might lead to a major accident, feel the locals from the taluka.
The condition of these culverts, some of which are as little as couple of metres to more than five metres is deteriorating with corroded steel rods which were put for reinforcement, protruding out while the concrete remains hanging on to itself and might collapse at any time.
It may be recalled that after a Portuguese era bridge collapsed at Sanvordem claiming two lives in May 2017, the then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had ordered structural audit of all the minor bridges and culverts on the roads in Goa.
Almost a year after PWD invited expressions of interest from companies/contractors to conduct a structural audit of the bridges and culverts in the State and recommend measures or new construction wherever required.
On the basis of the report, nearly 80 Portuguese-era bridges in North Goa were identified as dilapidated. Canacona residents feel that due to the short term memory of Goans the issue of weak bridges and culverts is forgotten only to be remembered once again after tragedy strikes.
“Due to the harsh climatic and saline nature in the coastal state of Goa the exposed mild steel is rapidly corroding and the news of another minor bridge or culvert collapsing is not far,” says Vishant Prabhu, a prominent whistle blower and an activist from Canacona, who mostly takes up issues concerning the safety of road users in Canacona and surrounding areas.
Diogo Da’Silva, a social activist and president of Association of Businessmen of Canacona while speaking on the issue of dilapidated culverts said that there are at least 20 culverts which need immediate rehabilitation or reconstruction, and PWD will be wholly responsible if any untoward incident happens due to their inaction.
