MARGAO: A group of citizens from Margao recently demanded that the ring road closure order be withdrawn, and have submitted a memorandum calling for the road to be opened to commuters, to Additional Collector Srinet Kotwale.
A delegation comprising SCM Convener Savio Coutinho, Radha Kavlekar, Arch Carlos Gracias, Maria do Carmo Fernandes, Damodar Onskar, Zarina Da Cunha and Nyusya Da Cunha met Kotwale and discussed the issue of the arbitrary closure of the ring road.
The delegation pointed out that the order for closure of the road was initiated on account of a letter dated October 28, 2022, submitted by the Chief Officer of Margao Municipal Council, whose decision has no council resolution whatsoever to back the request.
“The previous Collector Jyoti Kumari was very much averse to issue the notification for closure of the road on flimsy grounds of waste dumping, however, she was forced to buckle under political pressure,” said Savio Coutinho, convenor, Shadow Council of Margao.
It was further pointed out that the order and its conditions, speaks of some ongoing beautification work of the ring road, which is hampered by waste dumping. The delegation further alleged that the closure of this important road, at the cost of public inconvenience, is purely an attempt to cover the failure in the waste management system of the Council, and to protect the waste collection agency.
“We categorically brought to the notice of the Collector that from the day the order for the closure came into effect – November 24, 2022 till this date, there has been absolutely no such work in progress,” claimed Coutinho.
Coutinho added that since the stretch of the ring road from power house circle to KRC station is illuminated during the nights, it becomes imperative to re-open the road.
