MARGAO: Taking serious note of the incident in which a woman from Sarzora lost her life when a tree branch collapsed onto her two-wheeler at Navelim Junction, the South Goa District Collectorate on Wednesday assured to issue directions to all the departments concerned including disaster management to trim/cut the trees and branches hanging precariously on the roadsides immediately.
The assurance comes after the Congress delegation had a deliberation with the authority to ensure the safety of the public on roads.
Srinet Kothwale, Additional Collector-I informed O Heraldo that a meeting with all the authorities concerned has been convened on October 6, and the process with regards to providing compensation to the family of the deceased woman will be initiated at the earliest.
A delegation led by Amit Patkar, Congress, Goa State Party President along with Savio D’Silva, Moreno Rebello, Mitchell Rebelo, Beena Naik, President, Mahila Congress Committee and others met the Additional Collector-I and expressed their concerns with regards to public safety on roads.
South Goa District Congress Committee president Savio D’Silva said that his party demands justice for the deceased woman and her family.
“The government should also pay compensation to the victim’s family. A proper audit, inspection of the roads for safety should also include the identification of trees/branches that are dangerously leaning on to the roads and posing danger to travellers/pedestrians,” he said.
GPCC president Amit Patkar alleged that the death of the woman was purely due to negligence on the part of the government.
Moreno Rebello alleged that despite following the traffic rules there is no safety to the public on the roads.
The incident at Navelim resulted in the death of a lady, who was wearing a helmet. And hence making helmets mandatory does not serve the purpose as there is no safety on roads. Several trees on the roadside pose danger to the public, but there are no safety measures provided by the government, he alleged.
However, the Additional Collector said that his office will ensure that all the trees that pose danger to the public on the roadside will be cut or trimmed at the earliest.
“A meeting of all the authorities concerned has been convened on October 6 to deliberate on the issue. The process pertaining to the compensation to the victim’s family will also be initiated,” he assured.
