POINGUINIM, AUG 23
A PWD (NH division) road roller has been virtually abandoned at Shelli-Loliem in Canacona since the last five months.
Interestingly, Richard Rodrigues of Shelli, who deals in the sale of second-hand vehicles and in front of whose house the road roller is stationed, has been receiving many customers at his doorsteps asking for the rate of the road roller, thinking that it is for sale.
Rodrigues has been directing the buyers to approach Canacona PWD office to clinch the deal.
The Assistant Engineer of PWD (NH) Incharge Diogo Pereira was not available to comment on the five-month delay to repair the road roller.
A source disclosed that there are only minor repairs to be undertaken, but claimed that authorities are dilly-dallying in carrying out the repair works.
With the stranded road roller lying at the doorsteps of Rodrigues, the PWD has been hiring road rollers of private contractors at a rent of Rs 1,400 per day plus the diesel for the maintenance of the road works.
The repair work of filling the potholes by private contractors has been shabby, as it was observed that the potholes filled and the repair works did not last for a week at many places along the highway from Canacona to Polem.
From Shelli to Polem, it was observed that the highway has been plagued with potholes.
