QUEPEM: PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral on Thursday said that his department will now maintain gutters of national highways and State highways while major district roads (MDR) and internal roads will be maintained by the respective village panchayats, Zilla Panchayats (ZPs) and municipalities.
Cabral during his visit to Quepem Taluka said that village panchayats, ZPs and municipalities will maintain MDR and internal roads and PWD will issue NOC to them immediately after they make an application to the department.
The Minister said that the PWD will undertake repair work and maintenance of every government building for which separate fund has been reserved.
According to him, everywhere in the country, the PWD is undertaking maintenance of government buildings and the same formula will be adopted in the State by simplifying the existing procedure.
The Minister further said that the government had now enacted a Special Act wherein maintenance of all streetlights will be undertaken by the Electricity Department. Under this new Act, a panchayat member and the councillor respectively can write to panchayat secretary, BDO or the chief officer, who will then direct the Electricity Department executive engineer to repair the non-functioning streetlights.
During his visit, the Minister listened to the grievances of the people of Quepem Taluka at the municipal hall.
Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa, Deputy Collector Supriya Gaonkar, Mamlatdar Prataprao Gaonkar were also present. But Quepem Municipal Council Chairperson Suchitra Sirvoikar was conspicuous by her absence.
On the occasion, Altone said that the Minister visiting the taluka is a good thing for the people to bring their problems and get them solved in the presence of the Minister and other government officials.
He also requested the Minister to initiate measures to improve the condition of government anganwadis and primary schools.
