MAKBUL MALGIMANI
PERNEM: Instead of relaxing at home and playing with his grandchildren or looking after his farm, 80-year-old Raghoba Sonu Parab, who is worn out by age, still has admirable public concern and cares for sanitation.
It is this concern that drives him to defy his old age and clean up the Kiranpani-Aronda Bridge, which is a vital link between Goa and Maharashtra.
Fed up with governments’ inaction towards the maintenance of this vital bridge,
Parab travels from Palyem, which is about two kilometres away, to do the cleaning work.
The Kiranpani Aronda Bridge is at least 308 metres long and cleaning the bridge on both sides would mean working in the sun and cleaning a total of 616 metres drain in total.
But Parab is non-flustered. Merrily attired in a Santa Claus cap, and his flowing white beard, he goes about doing his duty, like a responsible citizen, since, according to him, the authorities have failed to do so.
“There is work to be done on the bridge. For the last three years, I have been doing this work of cleaning the weeds growing in the drain. No one is paying attention to this. The local panchayat is not bothered. They have cleaned the roadsides, but this work I’m doing for the last three years,” Raghoba told O Heraldo
Asked as to what motivates him to do this work he says, “It’s my enthusiasm to do such work. I’m happy to do this work. People should come forward and do such work, whenever they can.”
Raghoba stated that he started the work at 8 am and would work till 12 noon. Then he said he would return after lunch and labour till he finished the work.
When contacted, Goa PWD (Works Division) XIII Assistant Engineer, Shivnath Gawas said, “The entire maintenance and other works are carried out by Maharashtra PWD.”
Maharashtra PWD Deputy Engineer, Vaibhav Sagare said, “The bridge was built 10 years ago. We undertake its maintenance twice a year – pre and post monsoon.”
He also quipped, “I have been posted at Sawantwadi for last two years, but not come across any correspondence from Mr Parab on this issue,” he said.