PANJIM: Upset with barricades put up by the Smart City officials near Vithopa Temple, the residents of Ribandar removed those barricades as they were blocking access to their residents.
Speaking to O Heraldo, the residents said that access to their residences has become victim of ‘mis-management’ by the civic authorities.
Wilson D’Sousa said, “Nobody has right to put a barricade there without order of Collector. Only Collector can issue an order for closure of any road. Road from both sides were blocked. We did not know how to come out. Because of the road closure, nobody can come from Divar.”
“People made lot of noise. My father is old so he always travels to a hospital in Old Goa. It means I have to go to Panjim and then reach Old Goa. But we said no way and we removed it. It was blocked so much that even a person could not enter. It was simply abuse of power. The question is that if any emergency takes place, how ambulance or fire brigade will reach our houses?” he asked.
“The problem is that we were issued passes for Ribandar residents and initially the passes were honoured. But after that nobody cared and it was free for all. And suddenly it was decided to put the barricades permanently. The authorities do not think of problems faced by the people,” D’Sousa said.
“The point is that any road construction has been taken up, it should be completed. One work is being taken up, work goes on for few days and then suddenly it stops. What I am saying is that when you start a work, finish it. People are falling in dug up roads,” D’Sousa said.
Saiesh Amonkar said, “The smart city officials put a barricade blocking the road leading to our residences. Earlier they used to be a policeman who would check passes. If the full barricade is to be put up then it should be at Old Goa itself, not on the interior roads. We have different sorts of work for that we need to go out and come back.”
“Without vehicles, we cannot come out. Although buses were allowed to ply, but we told them that the road is not for you. Passes were provided to some persons only. Those who want to go to Panjim, they can use the highway. Why they have to come via internal roads of Ribandar? Already road near Vithal temple is narrow and dangerous. We just want that our vehicles should be allowed to come inside. If not, then what is point of having passes?” Amonkar asked.
Nishant Nagvekar said, “We are facing lot of difficulties. The roads near my house were closed from both ends. However, they are open now. The police official should keep a police man where the barricades were put and they should fine outsiders if they try to use the roads. But this is not happening. Everyone is being allowed. Around 70 per cent of traffic is from outside. There should be proper traffic management. There should be a policeman from Ribandar outpost. Police personnel are being deployed from Panjim Police Station. These police personnel do not know who is from Marcel and who is from Ribandar. Taking advantage of this, everyone claims that he or she is staying here. This has rendered passes useless.”
However, local Councillor Sandra Da Cunha said that the barricades were put with the order of Chief Secretary as is being done in Panjim as well. It was done for a temporary period, she said.
