Seek accountability from authorities for deficiency of service
A tyre of a truck gets caught in the dug up road in Saligao.
MAPUSA
Frustrated by the poor condition of Saligao road, concerned villagers have approached the Consumer Conciliation Committee (CCC) seeking action against the authorities for deficiency of service and public safety negligence.
Residents Anthony C de Souza and Rajendra Sawant filed a complaint with the CCC, highlighting the daily struggles faced by the public, including school children and commuters, due to the dilapidated and hazardous road conditions. The complainants emphasized that hundreds of daily commuters, including those traveling to a nearby school and the Pilerne Industrial Estate, are at risk.
The deteriorated state of the road is attributed to the installation of a large pipeline along a 2 km stretch from Datta Temple, Sonarbhatt to Saligao, and towards Mater Dei School, Saligao.
This project, undertaken in April-May, combined with the ongoing monsoon, caused soil settling and significant road decay.
Residents reported that the road is heavily used by school children, industrial estate employees, and tourists.
Public buses on the Mapusa-Saligao-Calangute route have also been forced to shorten their routes due to the unsafe road conditions.
Additionally, houses adjacent to the road have suffered from vibrations caused by the poor road state, endangering their properties.
During the first CCC hearing, the Public Works Department (PWD) revealed that the work was executed by the Water Resources Department (WRD).
The CCC directed the traffic police to investigate whether road safety protocols were followed by the contractor.
The PWD was also instructed to submit a report detailing the completed and pending sections of the road work.
The Saligao panchayat was asked to provide a response regarding the steps taken to monitor the project within their jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the WRD chief engineer has been issued a notice to ensure departmental officials are present at the next hearing scheduled for August 22.
The CCC aims to expedite the resolution of this issue to ensure the safety and convenience of Saligao residents and commuters.
