TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: The Public Works Department (Highways) was caught napping as rainwater gushed over the choked drains across the NH-17 road passing through Chaudi town.
According to Goa’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members, the roadside drains, culverts and gutters in Chaudi were left untouched, and the same were filled with dirt that had accumulated throughout the year.
Executive member of AAP’s central committee Ravi Komarpant took this correspondent to the roadside gutter in front of St Thereza of Jesus Church, which was at a central location in Chaudi. The entire stretch of this gutter was covered with filth.
AAP also alleged that the municipality had left several areas unattended and did not carry out any pre-monsoon works in the Canacona municipal area.
When contacted, Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) Chairperson Simon Rebello, agreed that there was a delay in getting the pre-monsoon works completed due to the late issuance of a sanction order for engaging labourers. However, he stated that pre-monsoon works had been completed in most of the wards. He said, “The workers are completing pre-monsoon works in remaining one or two wards. The NH-17 road passing through the civic area at Char-Rasta, Chaudi and Sheller is coming under PWD (Highways). The municipality is not the authority to maintain this road.”
Rebello added that DMA had also sanctioned the requested workers for emergency works in Canacona.
