TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
CALANGUTE: Mindless construction of a retaining wall over a PWD pipeline near the Circle of Dreams junction at Nagoa was suspended, after Calangute MLA Michael Lobo stepped in and stopped the work till the pipeline is shifted to another location.
Workers began the construction of a retaining wall at about 8.30 am by laying rubble over the PWD pipeline, oblivious to the consequences of their action.
Noticing that their work could damage the water pipeline and cause hardship to hundreds of residents in the area, this reporter confronted the supervisor and asked him to stop the work.
The supervisor refused to stop the work and instead, asked this reporter to contact Calangute MLA Michael Lobo to intervene in the matter.
Lobo was then alerted about the situation and he rushed to the site to take stock of the situation.
Arpora-Nagoa Deputy Sarpanch Cleophas Fernandes as well as Arpora-Nagoa Panchas Agostinho D’Souza and Sakharam Naik also visited the site, while some locals gathered around the contractor and enquired about the incident.
“Constructing a retaining wall over the PWD water pipeline is totally wrong. We do not appreciate such haphazard work being carried out by the contractor, who is interested in merely completing the work,” said a visibly annoyed Lobo.
Lobo admitted that the work would have been completed had it not been for this reporter.
“I have directed the contractor to suspend the work at the present site till the PWD pipeline is shifted elsewhere or till alternative arrangements are made,” said Lobo.
