Team Herald
CANACONA: Rampant digging and neglect of the NH66 highway from Polem to Balli by the authorities have left the driver of vehicles at the mercy of the pitiable highway stretch. It is also the leading cause of frequent mishaps on this stretch of the highway.
This part of the NH66 has witnessed roadside digging throughout the year, for either laying of cables or water conveying pipelines. The digging has been done either on the road itself or on its shoulders, without any supervision of the PWD NH authorities after permission is given. Locals have alleged that in many cases, the loose soil is not filled properly and thus sinks on its own thereafter.
Due to this, there have been many cases where unsuspecting drivers, have had the misfortune where the tires of their vehicles sink in the soil. And so, for no fault of the driver, their vehicles suffer damages and losses.
Canacona resident and activist Diogo da Silva referred to the condition of the road from Shristal to Charasta, and blamed the contractor laying the water pipeline for damaging the road and rendering it dangerous and unmotorable. Locals alleged that the contractor, after digging and laying the pipeline, had filled the trench with soil and thereafter, laid stones, which were covered with asphalt without following standard procedures.
“With the onset of first showers the road, some stretches from Polem to Balli have sunk in about one meter wide causing inconvenience to the motorists as well as pedestrians” said Manoj Prabhugaonkar an activist from Canacona.
“We will file a police complaint against the contractor for damaging the public road putting everyone’s life at risk” added Da’Silva.
Speaking about the condition of the road, PWD officials have stated that the contractor has been directed to redo the work and bring the stretch of the affected road to its original state.
