Team Herald
PONDA: Recent rains have caused newly tarred roads to be washed away, with substandard work and the absence of roadside gutters cited as key factors. The rainwater, with no proper drainage system, flows onto the roads, leading to their rapid deterioration.
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Naresh Naik, a rickshaw driver from Ponda, pointed out that the lack of gutters along certain stretches of road is a major cause of potholes.
Recently, locals from Barazan-Usgao raised similar concerns, noting that the absence of a proper drainage system is responsible for the pothole-riddled roads in their area. In the absence of gutters, rainwater finds its way onto the road, worsening the condition of the surface.
PWD officials have stated that they have received instructions from the government not to construct gutters, as this responsibility has been handed over to the Panchayat. Meanwhile, a Panchayat secretary mentioned that the government has directed them not to allocate development funds for gutter construction without prior permission, effectively preventing them from undertaking such projects.
While the lack of gutters is a common reason for road damage in some areas, in other places where gutter systems do exist, the failure to regularly clear choked drains has led to further problems. Overflowing water from blocked gutters spills onto the roads, damaging the tarmac.
Locals are urging the government to study this issue and ensure that roadside drainage is properly managed to prevent water from flowing onto tarred roads, especially considering the significant public funds spent on road construction.
PWD neglecting sinking roads and
potholes: Calangute p’yat
CALANGUTE: The Calangute panchayat has expressed frustration over the Public Works Department’s (PWD) apparent lack of interest in addressing the ongoing issues of sinking roads and potholes in the area.
Residents and local activists have repeatedly raised concerns, particularly after the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had assured that all potholes would be repaired before Ganesh Chaturthi. However, residents informed that none of the potholes caused by sinking sewerage chambers have been fixed.
In recent months, heavy rains have led to the development of numerous sinkholes, particularly on Baga road, which reportedly sank due to poor construction of the sewerage pipeline network. The most recent incident involved a pit near Piety Chapel at Khobrawaddo, which remains unfilled two weeks after the road collapsed, according to locals.
Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira stated that despite ongoing communication with PWD engineers and written requests for repairs, no action has been taken. “We have now written to the Chief Minister explaining the situation because it’s a waste of time speaking to the PWD engineers and writing to the PWD,” he said.
Panchayat members also highlighted that the lack of proper drainage along the roads is contributing to water-logging, exacerbating the risks of accidents caused by the potholes.
