Sudesh Bhosle | NT
VASCO
Lack of funds with the electricity and the public works department (PWD) has delayed the shifting work of electric poles and transformers along the Cortalim-Vasco national highway-17 (NH-17) for the last two months. The Cortalim-Vasco NH-17 is therefore becoming a death trap for motorists and pedestrians.
The PWD authorities (roads) have taken up the widening work for the Cortalim-Vasco national highway (NH-17) from Cortalim junction to Chicalim circle. Although the PWD authorities have taken up the widening work of the national highway on a war footing, they have found it difficult to excavate the hillocks due to the non-shifting of electric poles and transformers.
The digging work which is under progress along the NH-17 has become a death trap for motorists and pedestrians due to the absence of signboards. It was also observed that the PWD authorities have not placed barricades at the danger zones after digging the road. Most often vehicles which are transporting mud and boulders from the work site are parked in the said area, posing a risk to the lives of motorists.
It is interesting to note that the NH-17 from Cortalim to Chicalim junction sometimes plunges into darkness due to non-functioning of the fixtures. There were reports of accidents on this stretch due to the constant digging work.
Speaking to a senior official of the electricity department, he disclosed that there are about 132 electric poles and 2 transformers which come under the alignment of the projected widening work of the NH-17 from Cortalim to Chicalim junction. “We have conducted a survey of all the electric poles and transformers, and prepared an estimate of Rs 1.20 crore for shifting of the electric poles,” said the senior official and further maintained that the estimates of shifting the electric poles and the transformers are submitted to the PWD authorities.
“Despite preparing the estimates and handing over the same to the PWD authorities, they have failed to make a provision to deposit the funds with us,” stated a senior official of the electricity department. “The completion of widening work of the NH-17 is therefore delayed due to lack of funds,” added the official.
Meanwhile, Chicalim village panchayat sarpanch Nilam Naik has directed the electricity and the PWD authorities to make immediate provision for the shifting of electric poles and transformers which comes under the jurisdiction of the Chicalim village panchayat in order to avoid accidents.
“I spoke to the concerned officials of both the departments wherein they have disclosed that the widening work is delayed due to lack of funds,” said Naik and further requested the concerned legislators Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha to take up the issue with the concerned ministers and even with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for immediate sanctioning of funds.
