PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Water Resources Department (WRD) and the contractor to take all steps to complete the work of repairing of canal wall lining of the Tillari irrigation project within the prescribed time.
The Court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition filed by the petitioner Swapnesh Sherlekar, a resident of Mulgao, Bicholim, regarding desilting of the nallah flowing in between the agricultural fields in Mulgao village and to direct the WRD to repair the canal wall lining of the Tillari canal at least to the extent it flows in the Mulgao Village, within time-limit. The petitioner had also sought joint re-inspection along with him.
During the hearing, Advocate General Devidas Pangam produced a notice inviting tenders dated February 20, 2024 inviting tenders for undertaking and completing the work of de-silting of the nallah at an estimate cost of Rs 33,7,461. He said that once the tender is awarded, the work would be completed in 90 days excluding monsoon.
Accepting the AG’s statement, the division bench comprising Justice Mahesh Sonak and Justice Valmiki S A Menezes said that the WRD and the tenderer must endeavour to complete the work within the prescribed period so that the first issue raised by the petitioner is substantially redressed.
Regarding the second issue concerning repair of canal wall is concerned, AG Pangam placed on record the work order dated October 13, 2023 by which the work of the inter-State Tillari Irrigation Project-canal network in Goa has been awarded to the contractor, M/s Bagkiya Constructions Pvt Ltd for an amount of Rs.33,29,04,272. The contractor has to complete this work by December 2 this year.
While disposing of the PIL writ petition, the Court directed the WRD and the contractor to ensure that these works are completed within the prescribed period. The Court has also given liberty to the petitioner to file a miscellaneous application if the works are not completed within the prescribed period.
