PONDA: With monsoon around the corner, the road digging activity for the sewerage works still continues in Ponda.
Complaining that the recent heavy downpour on account of Cyclone Tauktae has turned the roads slippery, the locals have demanded that roads be restored before the monsoon.
It is pertinent to note that the sewerage work is still going on with 10-12-metre deep chambers lying open. The metal sheets covering the roadside sewage chambers were blown away leaving the massive chambers exposed. Fortunately, no injury or casualty was reported as there is less traffic due to the State-wide curfew.
However, the unseasonal rainfall has made commuting on the roads a nightmare for motorists due to the slippery conditions.
Usually, the PWD completes the restoration work by May 15 or May-end.
Earlier, PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar had stated that all sewerage works will be ready by May-end and the roads will be restored with hotmix carpet.
However, it appears that these works could be ready by May 31 but the hotmixing seems to be an impossible task.
The basalt rock formation upto 200 metres below the road at Daag has delayed the work of laying the sewer lines. The PWD purchased imported drilling machinery to clear the basalt rock for laying the lines, the work of which is still progressing.
However, with the State receiving heavy showers on account of the Cyclone Tauktae, the residents have demanded that the work of laying the sewer lines be stopped immediately by restoring the roads to their original state. It’s now four years that the sewerage work of 15 MLD STP in Ponda is still progressing.
