PANAJI
Work being carried out by contractors on the last leg of the new sewerage system under the Smart City mission from near Caculo Mall to the Sewerage Treatment Plant at Tonca reportedly caused some damage to the Tad Mad shrine and the banyan tree there but Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) has swiftly denied it calling the reports being circulated "distorted".
"There is no damage either to the shrine or the tree," IPSCDL said in a statement released on Thursday evening.
Some media outlets had reported that the excavation and other work being carried out had caused damage to the nearby shrine and banyan tree.
The IPSCDL statement however said: "The shrine at St Inez remains intact and there has been no impact on the nearby tree. Comprehensive shoring work has been undertaken and all measures are in place to prevent any imminent danger."
The statement, however, admitted that a portion of the retaining gutter wall had loosened due to the excavation work but there was no collapse as reported. "The gutter walls should not be mistaken for retaining walls. Some portion of the gutter was dismantled to allow shoring work by avoiding the existing live gas line and it should not be treated as a collapse," IPSCDL said.
The site has been assessed and necessary reinforcement and restoration measures are underway to ensure stability and public safety in view of the settlement of soil, which has occurred due to the 12-metre depth of the excavation, the statement added.
Meanwhile, the live water pipeline there has developed a minor leak due to inherent pressure and settlement of soil and has been deactivated to prevent further settlement of soil which could be potentially caused by the leak. The shutting of the pipeline has led to a stoppage of water supply to three buildings of the government quarters there, IPSCDL said, adding that reports that the entire St Inez Zone is affected are distorted.
Arrangements have been made to supply water through tankers to the affected buildings while work to provide an alternate line is being carried out, which would be ready by late Thursday, the statement said.
IPSCDL also said that work at such depths is not permitted after sunset to ensure the safety of the workers and as such work stops at 5.30 pm which should not be termed as abandonment of work. "More so the work is being monitored closely by a team of engineers and it is the subject matter of a Writ Petition before the court," IPSCDL added.
