Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Digambar Kamat on Friday issued a stern warning that anyone caught cutting roads to lay water pipelines without written approval from the department’s Principal Chief Engineer will face criminal action.
Speaking to reporters during the first day of his Janata Darbar held at the South Goa District Collectorate, Kamat clarified that even permissions granted by district collectors will not shield violators from FIRs.
“I have instructed PWD officials to register an FIR against anyone who damages or cuts hot-mixed roads without prior written permission from the PWD Principal Chief Engineer. Even if approval is obtained from the Collector, written consent from PWD remains mandatory,” Kamat said.
During the public interaction, residents of Margao and Salcete raised several complaints about road conditions and maintenance. Responding to these grievances, the Minister urged citizens to report potholes directly to him via WhatsApp for swift resolution. “The PWD has a dedicated system in place—any issue sent by the Minister is tracked and addressed by 5 pm the same day,” he assured.
On the issue of parking facilities in Margao, Kamat revealed that the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) will soon invite tenders to develop the land opposite the KTC bus stand into a paid parking area. He added that GSUDA will also float tenders for constructing a multi-level parking facility behind the Margao Municipal building.
Additionally, the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) is preparing a comprehensive plan for the redevelopment of the old bus stand area.
Kamat further stated that the Margao Municipal Council is expected to earn nearly ₹1 crore once pending dues from Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum are settled.
