NT NETWORK
CALANGUTE
The residents of Naikawaddo-Calangute are irked over the fact that the ‘patch work’ of the pothole-ridden road in the locality, carried out by JICA, has washed away following pre-monsoon showers and pointed that such ‘cosmetic’ work of the road was just an eyewash.
The residents said that the patch work was carried out in a shoddy manner and, therefore, it immediately washed away in the first showers.
JICA had carried out the work of laying sewage pipeline. The dug up roads developed potholes and, therefore, the company had to fill the potholes.
The work was carried out from the village panchayat ghar up to St Anthony’s chapel and when it rained the road washed out. However, officials have carried out inspection of the road work.
Residents have expressed concern that this particular road will now witness a huge rush of traffic with the schools reopening on Monday. As such, they said motorists will be inconvenienced while travelling on this stretch.
JICA officials, when asked about the road work, said that the road was done up, however, the repair work did not last due to the pre-monsoon showers.
Further, on drain problems, they said it was the work of the PWD to see that things are in place and, also of the village panchayat.
Naikawaddo panch Geeta Parab said that the work was being carried out in a haphazard manner and, therefore, she had to intervene.
The workers, she said, were transporting tar in buckets on a scooter and as such they were asked to do the work properly.
Calangute sarpanch Anne Fernandes said that there was an order from the deputy collector to complete tarring of roads and gutter work before May 15, but digging of roads was still going on.
The sarpanch alleged that JICA has not carried out the work properly and kept digging roads again and again. Regarding drains also the sarpanch said that it was the work of PWD.
MLA Michael Lobo, when contacted to know about the concerns of haphazard road work carried out by JICA, said that he will instruct the company to redo the work.