NT NETWORK
PONDA
Ponda police have decided to keep a strict watch on sand mining trucks operating in the panchayat area of Verem-Vaghurme and have assured the locals of taking strict action against the traffic rule violators.
A special panchayat meeting was held on Sunday wherein Ponda police inspector Sudhesh Naik, traffic PI Ram Asare, local panch members and other police officials were present.
Following the road accident on March 23, involving a sand mining truck and a bike in which a 16-year-old lost his life, the locals of Verem had stopped the movement of sand mining trucks. The locals had demanded strict action against the sand trucks violating traffic rules and had asked for formulation of some rules for safe plying of vehicles in the panchayat area.
Taking note of the fatal accident and the demands of the people, the Verem-Vaghurme panchayat had called a special meeting on Sunday. During the meeting, various resolutions were passed by the locals by taking Ponda police into confidence.
Firstly, Verem-Vaghurme panchayat passed a resolution seeking steps to restrict the entry or movement of heavy commercial vehicles in the panchayat area during certain hours.
However, trucks of locals engaged with outside mining companies to be allowed to ply at any time with proper permission from the panchayat. Secondly, the panchayat has resolved to erect cautionary signboards.
The panchayat has also resolved to direct all sand mining stakeholders to provide identity cards to their workers with proper permission from the Ponda police and the police in turn has assured locals to keep a watch on sand mining workers and truck drivers.
After listening to grievances and demands of the locals, the Ponda police and traffic cell assured to deploy a PCR van with two traffic constables and two police constables. The van will patrol the entire area of Verem-Vaghurme round-the-clock to keep a watch on violation of rules. If any vehicle is found violating rules it will be immediately challaned, said PI Sudhesh Naik.
Traffic PI Asare informed locals about the Goa police’s Whatsapp service and asked them to Whatsapp their complaints with photographs. “With rise in the number of vehicles in the state, there is a serious need to drive with caution on the roads and one should strictly follow the traffic rules,” said PI Asare. The meeting was attended by hundreds of locals from Verem-Vaghurme.