Team Herald
PORVORIM: Villagers of Socorro panchayat who have been suffering in silence from various problems arising from the ongoing work of the Porvorim flyover, demanded immediate solutions from the authorities and the agency executing the works.
In an attempt to calm down tensions, Socorro panchayat called a joint meeting of the villagers alongwith the representatives of the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Rajasthan-based Rajendra Singh Bamboo Infra Pvt Ltd (RSBIPL).
O Heraldo, in its December 11 edition, highlighted the sufferings of the people due to the dust pollution caused by the six-lane elevated corridor project along NH66 between Guirim and Porvorim.
Dust pollution, flyover drainage, service roads and traffic congestion were the focus of the joint meeting, held on Monday evening at the panchayat office. During the meeting, locals pointed out that they are forced to breathe polluted air.
An attendee said dust caused by the ongoing work is the biggest problem faced by the residents and asked the officials of the company executing the work to visit the places personally and inspect them.
“You are not watering the roads. It takes 15 minutes to reach the road. We have just one policeman who handles both sides of the road. You have to have at least two people there,” she said.
Another local demanding the officials to visit the stretch of the road, said, “The residents living there cannot breathe. Please come and inspect it personally. Dust is just bothering us. There is no proper path to walk and no safety measures in place.”
Highlighting the problems, former Socorro panchayat member Soter D’Souza wanted to know whether the situation will be similar to that of the Atal Setu near Sai Service and the Assembly complex, where in the absence of proper drainage all the water falls down on the road during the monsoon.
“The problem of drainage has to be addressed now. I am sorry to say but the fact is that this flyover is not being made in the interest of the citizens. This is being made in the interest of the real estate lobby and logistic hub which is coming up at Verna and other places in the State. We are second-class citizens for this government. Where will the drainage from the flyover go?" he questioned.
Another villager sought to know what is going to be the width of the service lanes and footpath as he said the fear is that all the trucks may use the service lane which is happening in most of the places which not only causes traffic congestion but also is a major cause of accidents.
However, a villager pointed out that the gram sabha was planned to be held a year back so what is the point of having it now when half of the work is done.
“Earlier presentation was made for sewage treatment plant (STP) during which promises were made but what we got was something different. Even here everybody is complaining about dust. Even traffic is a big concern. This is not what we want. We look for something better. Officials from the PWD and traffic should also come here so that we can tell them about our problem. The project will be completed and those executing it will go. The biggest challenge will be near the O Coqueiro junction. So an alternate road must be finalised before work starts there,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rajdeep Mukherjee, vice-president - projects, RSBIPL, informed that so far out of 88 piers, 25 are ready and the rest are under process. “We are ahead of the schedule. However, there will be no compromise on the quality,” he added.
High Court upset after Porvorim banyan tree gets partially chopped
Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday expressed serious displeasure after it was informed that a Banyan tree that was listed for translocation was partially chopped by the agency incharge of constructing the elevated flyover in Porvorim.
The judges were miffed at the fact that the buck was being passed between the different authorities regarding the crude way in which the tree was partially destroyed using an excavator.
A division bench comprising Justice M S Karnik and Justice Nivedita P Mehta observed that the Court had placed their faith in the government authorities that the trees listed for translocation would not be damaged. The Judges then summoned the contractor of the project, who submitted that the PWD had appointed an agency called Doctor Trees to carry out the translocation process.
Senior Advocate Norma Alvares, appearing for the petitioners, however, submitted documentary evidence and argued that the said translocation experts were not present when the tree was hacked.
According to the petitioner Aaron Victor E Fernandes, who had rushed to the site, stated that as per the supervisor at the construction site, the translocation experts were not present when the incident took place.
The division bench opined that an inquiry will be ordered if the authorities fail to disclose the perpetrator. The Court made it clear that if the contractor was responsible, then he will be hauled up for the same.
Senior advocate Alvares along with advocates Om D'Costa and Melisa Simoes urged the Court to get an undertaking from the contractor that none of the trees meant for translocation will be touched.