Team Herald
PONDA: Residents of Ponda have voiced their grievances and demanded an urgent cessation of perilous road digging activities during the monsoon season.
Goa Road Safety, People Opposing Projects (PoP), and various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have united in a demonstration against the controversial road digging projects.
Residents have expressed their frustration, highlighting the inconsistency in the application of the law. While ordinary citizens are fined for violating traffic rules and regulations, they question whether the same laws apply to the government itself. Dilip Naik, representing the Goa Road Safety Forum, pointed out the irony of the government imposing fines on people for traffic violations while blatantly disregarding the prevailing laws themselves. He questioned the message this sends to the public and emphasized that the focus should be on restoring roads and conducting pre-monsoon work instead of further excavation.
Dr Raghunandan, a member of PoP, shed light on the concerning situation. Despite an order from the collector mandating the cessation of all road digging work by May 15, the practice continues, particularly for power cabling and sewerage projects. Public safety during the monsoon season seems to be of little concern. Local residents fear that in the event of rain, the dumped mud on the roadside will create slippery conditions and contribute to the formation of hazardous potholes. This ongoing road digging without regard for citizen well-being has become a common sight, causing inconvenience and hardship.
PoP members stressed that their opposition is not directed towards the necessary work itself, but rather the inappropriate timing and irresponsible execution, lacking coordination between departments. The intention behind their protest is to bring this matter to the attention of all citizens and relevant authorities, they added.
