Team Herald
VASCO: Vasco residents, especially those using the main road leading to Mangor, are paying the price for better telecom connectivity with risky rides, thanks to exposed fibre optical cables that have been left open and jutting out of the road near the comunidade hall in Mangor Hill. These cables have being laid by Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (RJIL) for its ambitious 4G network, which is likely to be launched across Goa by this year.
“Since the last two weeks, these colourful cables have not been covered on the busy road leading to Mangor. Hundreds of people, including office-goers and students, are using this road daily, but still the contractor engaged by Reliance has not taken precautions and have left a set of three colourful cables just as it is, which is now posing a high risk to commuters. If there is an accident tomorrow, these people should be held responsible for negligence,” said Anil Chodankar, a retired headmaster of Govt HS, Mangor Hill.
Social activist from Vasco, Preetam Keluskar, while accusing the authorities for their lethargy, said, “Firstly, the road leading to Mangor Hill from Vasco is narrow. On top of that, Reliance had carried out micro trenching work on the road to lay underground cables. It was their prime responsibility to cordon the area where these cables are jutting out, but they failed to do so. Now people are left to face the music, which is not acceptable. We are ready to protest this lethargy and negligence.”
MMC Chairperson Deepak Naik has decided to take up the issue with Reliance. He stated, “The citizens’ concerns are valid. Even I have seen that these cables are posing a risk to two-wheeler riders and pedestrians. I have already discussed the matter with the Chief Officer and municipal engineer, and we will send a notice to the concern parties by Monday asking whether they have obtained permission from MMC before taking up such work.
and to immediately bury the cables and refill the trenches on the road.”
