Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: Raising alarm over what he described as the deteriorating civic infrastructure in Margao, Shri Chirag Datta Naik on Friday urged the government and concerned departments to take immediate steps to address a series of issues affecting residents across the commercial town.
Addressing a press conference, Naik highlighted the acute water shortage and frequent bursting of water pipelines, stating that repeated leaks have disrupted water supply and led to wastage of drinking water. He also criticised the repeated excavation of newly tarred roads to repair pipelines, calling it an unnecessary burden on public funds and an inconvenience for motorists.
Naik also alleged that several roads are being tarred without following proper engineering standards, with repeated layers of asphalt raising road levels and causing rainwater to enter residential properties. He said poor execution of road works has resulted in substandard infrastructure and repeated expenditure.
With the onset of the monsoon, he pointed to severe waterlogging in several parts of Margao, attributing the problem to inadequate drainage infrastructure and poor maintenance of stormwater drains. According to him, the situation has affected commuters, traders and residents alike.
Welcoming the appointment of a consultant to prepare the Gandhi Market Master Plan after more than three decades, Naik said the process should now be expedited and carried out in consultation with traders, vendors and other stakeholders to ensure the market is modernised in a sustainable manner.
He also expressed concern over several dilapidated buildings in the town, warning that unsafe structures pose a serious threat to public safety, particularly during the monsoon season. He urged the authorities to identify hazardous buildings and take immediate remedial action.
Naik further highlighted the persistent traffic congestion at the railway crossing near Damodar School and the recurring flooding of the nearby subway during heavy rainfall, saying both issues continue to inconvenience commuters and create safety hazards.
The disruption of garbage collection in several parts of Margao over the past four to five days has also become a major sanitation concern, he said, calling for the immediate restoration of waste collection services.
Questioning the preparedness of the administration for monsoon-related emergencies, Naik said there was an urgent need for a comprehensive disaster management plan and dedicated rapid response teams to deal with incidents such as uprooted trees and flooding.
He also raised concerns over the delay in the distribution of free textbooks to students even after the academic year has begun, stating that the delay is adversely affecting children’s education.
Naik said these issues directly impact the quality of life of Margao residents and assured citizens that he would continue to pursue the matters with the government until effective and lasting solutions are implemented. He stressed that people deserve efficient civic services, quality infrastructure and accountable governance.
