ANIL SHANKHWALKER
PORVORIM
The stretch of road beginning from the Old Mandovi bridge passing by the side of Malim Jetty to Betim has become an accident prone zone with around 25 unauthorized kiosks crowding the road near the Malim Fisheries Jetty with the blessing of local panchayat members.
The add to the woes of road users, the trucks which transport fish are also parked alongside this road, leaving hardly any place for overtaking or allowing even on coming vehicles to pass comfortably. Due to this, the smooth flow of vehicular traffic is seriously hampered with oncoming vehicles sometimes not visible as the place is also crowded by the fishing jetty labour force.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte had requested the Public Works Department to widen and hot mix this road but on account of the kiosks and inaction on the part of Penha de Franca panchayat to remove these kiosks PWDcould not broaden the road.
Assistant Engineer, PWD, Mapusa had written a letter to the Secretary, Penha de Franca on July 11, July 2013, stating “This office is frequently expressing that the traffic congestion near Malim Jetty create hardships for the smooth flow of traffic …Due to insufficient width of road many times traffic gets blocked and residents / pedestrians of this vicinity face hardships. Therefore in order to eliminate this problem this office intends to improve /widen this road especially at Malim Fisheries Jetty to decongest this area. In this connection you are requested to take immediate necessary action to remove the existing gaddas for road widening in the area.”
Upon receipt of this letter Penha de Franca issued a notice to all the kiosk owners near Malim Fisheries Jetty on August 19, 2013 directing them to remove all their kiosks within seven days from the publication of the said notice failing which the Panchayat would remove the gaddas and the cost incurred will be recovered from them.
However, later, the village panchayat body meeting held on September 26, 2013 adopted a resolution to carry out the inspection of the said kiosks and there after take the necessary legal action.
Accordingly panchayat fixed the site inspection on November 6, 2013 at 10.30 am and letters were sent to the kiosks owners to remain present at the site along with their documents such as NOCs, permission issued by panchayat, if any. After conducting the site inspection panchayat again issued show cause notices to all kiosk owners on November 23, 2013 directing them to show cause why their gaddas should not be removed. Thereafter, surprisingly, there was no action on the part of panchayat.
When contacted Penha de Franca Sarpanch Radhika Sawant stated that since panchayat had not received any reply from the kiosks owners panchayat has decided to approach the BDO, Mapusa to take necessary legal action.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte stated that the kiosks at Malim Jetty create traffic problems especially during peak hours.
Tonnes of garbage which is generated from the jetty and kiosks is being dumped by the side of the Malim Jetty due to which the area has become unhygienic. This garbage is often set on fire creating nuisance in the locality.
Trucks which carry fish are lined up on the road which narrows down the width of the road creating traffic bottlenecks. The panchayat seems to be merely happy to push the ball in the BDO’s court. Unless these kiosks are removed by panchayat, Public Works Department will not be able to take the work of widening of road and consequently the people will continue to face hardships Khaunte said.
