The scene in Dona Paula is no better than that of a war zone. For the residents of this area, the road to development has been laced with the apathy of a government and its contractor, where common courtesies have been swept aside, as in a war.
The site has become infamous as the road from NIO circle to the Dona Paula jetty has been under concretization for some months. It has been giving residents nightmares and been the scene of many confrontations between the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), the consultants that are looking at the Panjim Master plan and the contractor on one side and the residents on the other.
Ruth Aguiar, a 70-year-old lady, cannot enter her house. The entrance to it has been blocked by pipes and a JCB has excavated the road right in front of her gate. She alleges that this was done maliciously, probably because there was a complaint from her neighbour that there was some quality issues with concreting of a slab (thickness of slab was not maintained) and the contractor was forced to break/redo it.
As nobody was willing to listen to her entreaties, she was forced to file a complaint with the police.
Initially the police were helpful and asked the contractor to provide some means for her to enter the house.
However, after they left everything returned to normal and the callous and bullying attitude returned.
And shockingly – the men in khaki on Monday told her that they could not help her as this was a government job.
“So the contractor has been given a license to destroy my entry and mentally torture me. Is this government for the people or for the contractor?” she asked rhetorically as she spoke to Herald from next to the compound wall as the JBC tore into the road and destroyed the entrance even more.
Ironically there was a police jeep stuck behind the truck that the JCB was filling.
When questioned, the cops in the jeep said they were not aware of the complaint and would immediately inform their superiors.
Herald asked them what they would have done if someone had dug up their gate, to which they agreed that it was absolutely callous on the part of the contractor and not the right thing to do. But they did not offer to help.
Aguiar’s neighbour and nephew had earlier complained that the contractor had threatened him and disconnected the water supply to his residence. On enquiry with the workers Herald was told that it is as per instructions of their MD.
The contractor’s person said they are doing their best and will sort out all the issues faced by the people. He said that they are extending all possible cooperation to the residents of the area. However, sources say that it is not their fault as the water department and electricity department is not cooperating with them given that they are only concerned with the concretization of the road.
According to the contractor he has supplied temporary water to the residents even though it is for the PWD to do so and they are trying to extend all cooperation and trying not to inconvenience the residents.
