PANJIM: As the work to lay new sewerage lines and construction of concrete road under the Smart City Mission has resumed in full swing at St Inez, here, the local residents fear that flooding during monsoon may lead to some ‘untoward incidents’ in the area while those owning commercial establishments fear further loss in their business.
Currently, the work is going on the road stretches from Sheetal hotel to Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) at Tonca and from Caculo Mall junction to Madhuban circle.
The locals raised apprehension that the area is going to get submerged in the rains and will lead to disruption of normal life.
“You will witness accidents frequently, locals can’t avoid it but people from other areas should avoid coming to this side for their own safety. St Inez roads will attain the status of most dangerous roads of Goa,” Roshan Mandrekar, a local resident said.
Gauresh Borkar, who works as a salesperson at a shop in St Inez said, “The entire area was dug and mud and debris are dumped all over, drains are also choked. Vehicles getting trapped and two-wheeler riders falling due to muddy condition will be a common sight during the rains. Motorists will have a tough time manoeuvring through these road stretches.”
Sanjay Kavlekar, another local resident alleged that the ongoing works at St Inez under the Smart City Mission is being carried out in ‘haste and haphazard manner’.
“The situation is going to get worse in the monsoon when this area is flooded. How will I take my kids to school? Instead of stopping the works in view of the monsoon, the government has continued the work putting our lives in danger. We fear an outbreak of waterborne diseases in the area in the monsoon,” Kavlekar said.
Prashant Gunaji, who runs a hotel in St Inez, said that due to dust pollution and in the absence of proper approach road, customers are shying away which has caused huge loss to his business.
“Because of road digging I suffered a lot. Now, I will suffer further loss in the monsoon which is days away. The road is dug up and dust has settled inside my hotel premises and there is no relief despite cleaning the premises frequently as the dust is in the air. I see bleak days ahead for my business,” Gunaji said.
