Team Herald
PERNEM: Protesting the bad condition of the roads in Pernem Taluka, the locals and the members of various panchayats on Thursday demanded that a criminal complaint be filed against the contractor and the company undertaking road works in the taluka.
The protest was held on the National Highway-17 at Malpe. The locals protested against the contractor and the company for being negligent to the safety of the commuters.
The protesters claimed that nine people have already lost their lives due to the pathetic condition of roads and they do not want more people to die.
As the protesters blocked the highway, Pernem police immediately rushed to the spot and dispersed them. However, before allowing the resumption of traffic, the protesters demanded immediate repair of service road
Protesters then demanded that the contractor and company officials concerned be summoned to agitation spot.
“Call the officials and contractor concerned, till then we will not move. We are ready to face any consequence; even arrest. Repair the service road first and then carry out the expansion work of highway,” the protesters demanded.
However, the Pernem police team headed by PSI Praful Giri and PSI Aditya Gaonkar convinced the people to withdraw their protest.
Later, a delegation headed by Adv Prasad Shahapurkar, Adv Jitendra Gaonkar and Virnoda Sarpanch Prashant Rao met Pernem Deputy Collector Chandrakant Shetkar, Pernem PI Sandesh Chodankar and demanded that a criminal case be filed against the contractor and the company. The delegation also demanded a meeting with the contractor and the company officials.
PI Chodankar assured the delegation to arrange a meeting with the contractor and company officials and till then he asked the people to maintain peace.
But the delegation was not satisfied with the assurance given by PI Chodankar. Following this, all proceeded to the Deputy Collector Shetkar and placed before him the demand of the protestors.
After listening to the demand, Shetkar informed the delegation that the company concerned has already given a written undertaking to repair the roads by November 30 and the matter is in the court.
However, Adv Shahapurkar informed Shetkar that the company’s written undertaking is bogus as “practically nothing is being done.”
Following this, Shetkar directed Pernem Mamlatdar Anant Malik and Pernem PI Sandesh Chodankar to summon the company officials and contractor and instruct them to repair the roads.
