Contact number for citizens to raise issues: Govt to HC

PANAJI

A day after assuring the High Court of Bombay at Goa about appointing an officer as a single point of contact for public grievances related to the ongoing elevated corridor construction at Porvorim, the State government on Tuesday submitted that a contact number will be shared for citizens to report issues. 

Advocate General Devidas Pangam informed the Court that grievances, along with proposed solutions (if any), must be submitted in a message not exceeding 50 words. “Anyone facing problems (along the stretch of flyover works) can send a brief message. Appropriate action will be taken,” he said. 

The court accepted the proposal while Pangam further informed that a WhatsApp group comprising government officers had been created to coordinate and efficiently handle daily issues along the construction stretch. 

Fresh grievances about pollution and the absence of barricades were raised by petitioner Adv Moses Pinto on Monday stating all this was despite assurances from the Public Works Department (PWD) and the contractor earlier. The AG had then assured the Court that a mechanism for grievance redressal would be implemented immediately. 

The Division Bench of Justice M S Karnik and Justice Nivedita Mehta meanwhile directed PWD’s Executive Engineer Jude Carvalho, who was present in court, to ensure strict compliance with safety measures by the contractor. The Bench held Carvalho responsible for ensuring that all safety and regulatory requirements were met. 

During the hearing, an intervention petition was filed by Porvorim residents raising concerns about blocked drainage due to ongoing digging activities. The Court allowed the petition and directed the PWD to submit a detailed timeline within four weeks, indicating when the drainage work would be completed. “The plan is ready to clear the drainage and a timeline will be submitted to the Court. The new drainage line must be completed before the onset of monsoon,” Pangam assured. 

The High Court has also sought compliance regarding the hot mixing of the road stretch from the Hyundai showroom within 2-3 days while postponing the matter for a further hearing next week.