PANJIM: Warning of the possibility of localised caving in of road over the next two months, officials of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) have asked commuters and motorists to exercise caution while travelling along the road stretch from Caculo Mall to bridge near Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Tonca-St Inez, Panjim.
Elaborating on the reasons for the possibility of localised settlement of road, a press release by the IPSCDL states that the HDPE sewerage pipeline along this road, is laid through trenchless method of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD).
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A highly technical justification which is beyond the understanding of the common man was issused. “The approximate size of the bore is close to one metre. Considering the large bore size, there is a possibility that the gaps/voids between the drilled bore for the pipe and the pipe laid would be naturally filled with surrounding soil due to high water table and there is a possibility that this may lead to localised settlement of road in the above mentioned stretch in the next two months,” states the release.
Meanwhile, local residents of Panjim have reacted sharply to the ongoing Smart City works.
Continuing his strong stand against the manner min which the Smart City works are carried out former GCCI president, Manoj Caculo said, “This is something very strange. Is surprising that sewerage work has been taken up across the city but questions are being raised only about roads near Caculo Mall. Does it mean that only one road will cave in and not others? I feel that this is a biased advisory.”
“The road starts from Vivanta By Taj and goes up to the culvert. The sewage work was taken up on the entire road but no advisory was issued. Why has the advisory been issued only for the road which is opposite Caculo Mall? Everybody was aggrieved but nobody was speaking,” Caculo said.
He added, “I insist and reiterate that if the work is not completed by May 31 then the people responsible should resign. They should tell the people of Panjim that they cannot do the work and hence have resigned,” he said.
Neena Naik from Miramar said, “It has been three years when the Smart City work was taken up. Babush Monserrate is MLA of Panjim. If he is unable to get the work done then Chief Minister should look into the matter.”
“We do not know who the contractor is and what they are doing. Actually government should come out with a white paper on the projects,” she said.
Manguirish Pai Raiker said, “Panjim is a reclaimed area. Piling is done before any construction work is taken up. There is a need for proper road engineering and proper precaution. This I think has not been done. There is a need for a proper mechanism otherwise the money spent on the work will go down the drains. It should be ensured that taxpayers’ money is utilised properly and also consultant should be held responsible for such type of things.”
