Goemkapronn desk
SIOLIM: Roads in such bad condition, that pregnant ladies are getting out of their cars and walking to avoid risk due to severe jerks
In its ongoing campaign against bad roads across Goa, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) descended on the Siolim constituency today after carrying out protests earlier this month in Saligao, Pernem and Mapusa constituencies.
Targeting the local MLA Delilah Lobo who was elected on the Cong ticket but jumped to BJP in the name of development, AAP demanded urgent repairs to the pothole-ridden roads in the Siolim Constituency.
Giving a deadline of one week, AAP state President Adv. Amit Palekar warned that failure to take corrective measures would result in a protest outside the MLA’s residence.
“Whether in Anjuna, Assagao, or Siolim, the roads are in a deplorable state. If no action is taken immediately, AAP will stage a sit-in protest at her residence,” he declared.
“When the CM retained the PWD department, we hoped for more control over the rampant corruption in infrastructure works, but the situation has worsened. If we see the local word for PWD is सार्वजनिक बांधकाम खाते, and it seems PWD officials have taken the word खाते too literally as खा-ते (eat it, in Konkani) with respect to the road work funds.
“The state of the roads is a direct consequence of BJP’s corruption, for which there seems to be no limit, hence the infrastructure works are suffering”, Palekar remarked.
Palekar also suggested that the Chief Minister organise a study tour within Goa to witness the poor condition of roads and other infrastructure firsthand.
AAP’s Working President Valmiki Naik said, “Since elections are not imminent, and considering that some BJP MLAs only engage in road works prior to election order to garner votes, AAP has launched a movement across Goa to showcase the true state of Viksit Goem. We don’t want Goans to endure substandard roads until the next elections.”
Naik further remarked, “The current condition of Assagao road is appalling. The plot rates here range from 80 thousand to 1 lakh per square meter. The Panchayat and TCP collect crores of rupees in the guise of construction license fees and infrastructure taxes. Where is this money going? Even the so-called Jet-patcher vehicle inaugurated with great fanfare by former PWD Minister Cabral, which was supposed to fix potholes in a matter of hours, seems to have disappeared. ”
AAP leader Pujan Malvankar said, “Currently, Assagaon is becoming a popular place among tourists. The Siolim road is the entry and exit road for Assagao, Vagator, and Anjuna, all popular tourist destinations. Tourists and locals are facing hardships due to poor roads. The government should take immediate action, at least to fill the potholes now.”
AAP leader Irwin Fonseca criticised the handling of utility works, stating, “While laying cables for electricity, everything is ruined by the electricity and PWD departments. Now, pipes are projecting outside, and they haven’t patched up the roads. It’s a complete waste of public money.”
AAP leader Umesh Kolwakar railed at the Lobo couple, who are the Calangute and Siolim MLAs, to repair the roads before Ganesh Chaturthi, as he said that local residents won’t even be able to take their idols for immersion in the current state”.
In an interesting coincidence, during the protest, a pregnant lady disembarked from her vehicle and walked along the badly potholed stretch while her husband drove the vehicle ahead, as the severe jerks from driving on the road would be harmful to her condition.
