PANJIM: The digging of road from Souto Maior, Caranzalem to Taleigao Church for last four months is causing hardships to residents even as Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) Councillor Nelson Cabral has requested Commissioner Clen Madeira to seek report from the PWD
regarding the inordinate delay in completing the restoration of the dug
up road.
Cabral said that it is disheartening to observe that all the residents of Dona Paula and Caranzalem are subjected to great hardships due to the closure of the said road stretch from Latif tyre puncture repair shop, Caranzalem to Taleigao Church/cemetery for over four months.
“Faithful visit Taleigao church especially during this lent season to offer prayers and pay homage to their departed ones at the Taleigao Cemetery. The students and the parents from Dona Paula and Caranzalem, who visit the St Michael School at Taleigao or the supermarkets have been suffering irreparably due to the inordinate delay of more than four months due to the closure of the said road on account of the work being undertaken by the PWD at snail’s pace,” Cabral said.
“The senior citizens, the elderly and the sick who wish to visit their MLA also have to undergo hardship by undertaking a roundabout route, besides those residing in the locality of the dug up road also run the risk of them and/or their little children and/or their pets falling in the dug up trenches and suffering injuries which could be also fatal, besides suffering from the dust and pollution hazards,” the Councillor added.
Cabral said that since the people of the locality have expressed displeasure, disgust and anguish over the inordinate delay in non-completion of the undertaken project for a considerable period of time, besides causing untold hardship due to the closure of the road in question for over a period of four months, it is important that a report is sought and the PWD is directed to expedite the work.
Bonie Oliveira, a resident of Caranzalem complained that due to constant digging they are subjected to dust pollution while the road has been rendered inaccessible to such an extent they are forced to park their vehicles elsewhere.
Diogo Oliveira, another resident, said that work along the Souto Maior in Bazaar wado, Caranzalem is moving at a snail’s pace. “They have dug up the road in front of my house and I have no proper access. We have to tread cautiously while moving out of our houses. I have a sister, who is physically challenged and if someone falls sick, there is no access for the ambulance to reach my house,” he said.
Stephen Dias of Dona Paula has demanded that the Commissioner must file FIR against the contractor, who has messed up the lane from Caranzalem near Latif Garage to Taleigao and even the funeral procession is deprived taking dead to the Taleigao cemetery.
He has urged Revenue Minister Babush Monserrate and Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monserrate to intervene to expedite the progress of this road.
