MARGAO: Following the news report published by Herald in its Saturday edition, titled ‘Raia Village Panchayat up in arms over congestion created by parking of trucks’, a joint inspection was carried out by the authorities on Saturday and assurances were given by the police that action would be initiated.
Police officials from Margao and the Maina-Curtorim police station were present for the inspection along with Minguelina D’Souza, local panch of Raia Village Panchayat and Anthony Barbosa, Vice-President of the BJP Scheduled Tribes Morcha, in the presence of others.
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Speaking to Herald, post the inspection, the Police Inspector (PI) of the Margao Traffic Cell, Gautam Salunke, said that the vehicles parked illegally on the road, which included trucks will be towed away soon.
“There is major congestion at the main Arlem circle due to this issue. Earlier, we had taken action against those trucks, which were parking illegally on the Arlem-Nuvem bypass road. Now they have shifted and started parking on the Arlem-Ponda highway. But we have noted down the violations and will be acting accordingly,” said Salunke.
The PI further asked the Raia panchayat to provide them with some space where they can keep the abandoned vehicle after it is towed. He added that the vehicles would be auctioned if the owners do not respond to calls to take their vehicles.
Barbosa said he had called the police to look into this issue as the locals were upset about the problems created by such trucks and other vehicles parking on the side of the road. He further added that action should also be taken against vendors who illegally squat by the roadside without any permission and also adding to the traffic issues.
Barbosa however defended the Raia Panch Minguelina, who was the former Sarpanch and said under her tenure, action had been initiated but blamed the owners of such vehicles for causing further traffic congestion.
Minguelina added that she had raised this issue at the recent panchayat body meeting and had been following up with the panchayat secretary to carry out an immediate inspection.
It may be recalled that this issue had been raised in the recent Raia gram sabha as well with a resolution being passed to take action against such vehicles.
“Now the police have said they will remove these vehicles in four days’ time,” Barbosa added.
PI Salunke also touched up on the issue of abandoned vehicles in their jurisdiction and said they had done a survey of all such vehicles and the report would be sent to the District Collector. He said these vehicles would be auctioned soon.
