PONDA: PWD Minister Ramakrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar on Wednesday rejected allegations of Ponda MLA Ravi Naik that the former is deliberately halting the hot-mix carpeting of roads in Ponda city.
The minister was responding to Ravi’s allegation that despite the direction given by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to the PWD to carry out hot-mix carpeting of roads in Ponda, he ignored the same delayed the work.
Explaining the delay in hot-mix carpeting of roads in Ponda city,
Dhavslikar said that the works was delayed due to the ongoing work of laying sewerage pipeline.
“The roads are currently being dug up for laying sewerage pipelines and I am aware of the inconvenience caused to the people due to road digging work,” he said.
He said that nearly Rs 15 crore tender for hot-mix carpeting of Ponda city roads is ready with the PWD and this work could be undertaken any time.
He rejected Ravi’s allegations that he intentionally delayed the work.
Anticipating that completing the sewerage work would take two more months, Dhavalikar said that the PMC councilors should cooperate for its early completion.
He said if roads are hot-mix carpeted without completing sewerage work, it would be waste of money as all the road would have to be dug up again.
He alleged that Ravi Naik is angry that he is not getting the opportunity to break coconut for inauguration of hot-mix carpeting of city roads. “I will invite Ravi Naik soon to attend the functions for hot-mix carpeting of city roads. Inauguration of hot-mixing of all the roads will be held at hands of Ravi Naik,” he said.
On the police complaint by the contractor against his Personal Assistant, he said, “I didn’t receive any complaint on matter. If I receive a complaint I will conduct an inquiry and if it is proved that action is necessary, I will not hesitate to take action. But without verification and inquiry it is not fair to act on matter.”
