VASCO: The hill cutting at Chicalim for widening NH17-A has caused the affected section deteriorate with reports of minor landslides for the past few days.
The incident has created panic among road-users and locals have demand that the PWD initiate safety measures immediately.
According to the information, incessant rains for the past few days led to a huge boulder from the excavated section of the hill to roll down on Tuesday morning. Fortunately the boulder fell on the setback area and traffic on the busy Cortalim- Vasco road route was not disrupted.
Irate villagers, while acknowledging the importance of the project, said the PWD should have carried out the work in a planned manner, while keeping safety aspects in mind, considering the fact that the hill area was prone to landslides that could inadvertently endanger lives of road-users.
A social activist from Dabolim, Preetam Keluskar said the PWD should have initially constructed a retaining wall along the weak portion of the hill, as excavation would render the hill prone to landslides.
Meanwhile, the Technical Assistant PWD (NH) Vincent D’ Souza assured that all precautions were taken and directions were issued to the contractor to begin work on the retaining wall at all loose pockets below the excavated portion of hill.
