RIBANDAR: As the people of Ribandar read O Heraldo’s ground report, their worries and anxieties resonated even louder as their voices were amplified. One of the first questions they asked out of anger and frustration was when the misery would end. Is there a deadline?
The local councillor Sandra Maria Da Cunha’s reaction to this was surprising and not very heartfelt. Councillor Da Cunha explained that since the manholes are deep and dangerous (see her full quote in the quote room section) traffic was getting diverted. But “people are creating a commotion and not supporting”.
She then added, “That is why now permanent barricades have been put in place. One is at Ajuda Church junction and the second at Vithal Mandir. However, locals got violent there. Though I told them that it was for just a few days, one gentleman removed the barricades. I told him there was so much traffic congestion and it was becoming too much to bear. But now the barricades have been removed and the situation is as usual.”
“If the work is to be completed, then people’s support is required. They are not trying to make a little bit of adjustment. We have given them alternate routes, but still they do not want to follow. I agree that there is dust pollution, but I have told the authorities to sprinkle water on the road so that people are at least relieved from the dust,” the CCP Councillor said.
What has broken down in Ribandar, apart from the roads, is communication. The anger of the people is growing and so is the distrust. The Councillor appears to see the people as commotion creators when they are simply trying to get their lives back in order but are faced with a situation where they do not even know when their little village, which has become a choking gas chamber, will be freed from the clutches of this kind of development.
The people of Ribandar’s principal source of anger is the random unexplained “assault” on their roads and lives with no clear deadline. Sandra’s response to deadlines was open-ended and unclear.
“The works are supposed to be completed by April 30 but looking at the present scenario I do not think that it will be completed. It will go ahead for another two week’s time. We are expecting that the work of manholes will be completed by the middle of May,” she said.
And is this what people have to face till whenever the work ends?
Sashida Amonkar, a Rihandar resident said, “The road work started in March and it is now month. The authorities have said that they will complete the work by May 15. But I am not sure whether it will be completed or not. Because I do not see many workers working here. The workers went to their places for Holi but have not returned yet. We have complained to the authorities so many times but nobody is listening.”
John Cardozo, a businessman, said, “Ever since these works started, I have lost around 25 per cent of business due to the ongoing works. The authorities had given April 30 as the deadline to finish the work but now it has been pushed to May 15. But I do not think that it will happen. A lot of work is left to be done. These works may go up to May 31 for sure.”
Traffic congestion, dust, air pollution and blockage of roads leading to houses These things have become routine affairs for the residents, who are forced to inhale dust and bear honking, thanks to the ongoing Smart City work.
Whether they are senior citizens, businessmen or school-going students, all are facing hardships. The hapless residents, while speaking to O Heraldo, shared their pain and agony.
Wilson D’Souza said, “The main problem we are facing is dust. But the big problem is that if there is any emergency, neither the fire brigade nor an ambulance can come to your house. Either we will die or our house will be burnt. What should have been done was that the authorities should have taken the views of scientists. There are a lot of Goan scientists who could have given the right view on how to do the work.”
Councillor Sandra, who is facing the ire of the locals, sought to defend herself, “I am concerned that somebody may fall into the ditch. If it happens then who is going to be responsible? I will be blamed. Tomorrow people will say that the councillor did not take any action. That is why I told the Smart City authorities to close the routes.”
“One accident has taken place. I keep reminding them time and again about putting up the barricades. But somehow people are not following the rules,” she said.
But people are in no mood to let this pass lightly. Amonkar added, “Everywhere holes are dug because of which our roads are blocked. I cannot even go to the office nor can I take my vehicle out. I do not drive. Therefore, I got a driver to take me to the office and drop me back. But now because of these works I am facing a problem. I wanted to go to GMC. I wanted to go to a temple. But I could not go.”
The mood of the people was clear. As miseries mounted, so did the lack of understanding of the people’s troubles, and the empathy that is needed by any sensitive administration.
See what Councillor Sandra is saying: “People are not supporting”
“Right from Vithal Mandir to Ajuda Church the Smart City work is going on. Because the manholes are big and dangerous and there are quite deep excavations, the traffic is being diverted. However, Smart City is trying its best to hurry up with the work to complete within the deadlines. But the problem is people are also trying to create commotion and are not supporting
—Sandra Maria Da Cunha, Councillor
