PONDA: Trees and houses by roadsides in Ponda caked with dust have become a common sight thanks to the massive dust pollution caused by widespread road-digging for the laying of utility cables in the taluka. For the people living in these areas, breathing dust-laden air evokes unsettling memories of the sufferings of citizens residing in the state’s mining belt.
The May 15 deadline to halt digging and to restore roads in time for the monsoon has long gone, but several village roads in Ponda remain excavated and look like war zones. What’s worse is that the agencies concerned have done little to control major dust pollution, leading many locals to complain of ill health and respiratory problems.
“The Kavlem-Ponda road remained dug-up for more than two months. After underground cables were laid, the trenches were haphazardly covered with mud at some places while work remains pending at other spots,” said resident Vishal Fadte.
“What the authorities fail to understand is that heaps of loose mud dumped by the roadsides spread dust particles that hang in the air and are eventually inhaled by commuters and pedestrians. Piecemeal solutions like spraying water on the large mounds of mud once a week hardly help. People have been complaining of frequent colds, sneezing and overall ill health.”
