Ponda locals urge govt to expedite sewerage system work

Team Herald

PONDA: Ponda locals on Tuesday demanded with the State government to expedite the work of the chambers dug for the sewerage network line at Daad, where the hard Basalt rock formation has been found forcing the workers to dug deep, to get relief from the bumpy and rough roads. 

The dug chambers for sewerage network line resemble to the moon craters, said a local Umesh Naik. 

“The point behind saying this is that the pain Ponda locals are suffering riding or driving on these roads condition of which has turned from bad to worst due to digging for the past four years and want to get rid out of it at the earliest. The officials are giving ‘tarikh pe tarikh’ (continuous extensions) to complete the project but have failed to fulfil till date,” Umesh said.

“Fonnya or Fond (Ponda) derived its name due to its geographical crater like formation. However, since the past four years true to its name ‘Fonnya’ has indeed become a ‘City of Fonds’ due to several craters formed due to digging of sewerage wells in the middle of the roads,” he said.

“Due to this condition, the roads are not hot-mixed for the past four years which is causing hardship to the locals, as the roads too have developed several potholes, to drive or ride on these bumpy and rough roads causing headache and backaches. Some riders say that they feel like riding or driving on the moon,” added Umesh. 

Several huge and deep trenches (like small craters) has been dug at Daag where the hard Basalt rock formation has been found at the last stage of completion of sewage treatment plant forcing the sewerage workers to dug deep. Here biggest trench is found, were heavy machinery is engaged in digging and breaking the rock formation. Huge heaps of mud dumps are stacked by the roadside. Further, recently to continue with the pending work, the roads at Ponda bus stand and Varkhandem were dug. 

Many locals complained of back pain, spondylosis and respiratory disease. 

Considering the hardship faced by the locals, PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar had said that the hot-mix carpeting would commence on February 20 and all roads would be hot-mixed before May. However, instead of hot-mix carpeting the city roads are seen dug for completion of the pending work of sewerage network lines. 

Pondaites demanded to expedite the work as it becomes difficult to drive or ride through the bumpy and rough roads.