Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: The Goa Legislative Assembly witnessed heated arguments over haphazard work carried out by contractors on the National Highway Patradevi-Canacona stretch.
The Opposition claimed that citizens were facing several hardships while travelling on the National Highway Patradevi-Canacona stretch and demanded action on the contractor.
Khaunte charged the contractor bursting the pipelines, snapping underground power cables and filling fields with debris.
PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar admitted that there had been issues with the contractors, and already, two times Goa govt has issued show-cause notices to the national highway contractors.
He further said that the work on Patradevi to Canacona National highway would be completed by December this year.
“The work of the national highway is in full swing after the rains; we have shifted all the water pipelines away from the national highway; hence there won’t be any further bursting of water pipelines,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant assured the house that contractors would be directed to repair the road under the flyovers from Panaji to Zuari bridge on a war footing before November 1.
Opposition leader Digambar Kamat raised the issue of the pathetic condition of the roads under the flyovers built by the contractors on the national highway from Panaji to Margao and the negligence by the contractors to keep them in motorable condition.
CM said that it is the contractors’ job to maintain these roads, and they will be asked to repair them immediately.
Sawant also said that the efforts are to amicably solve the pending matter of elevated section of National Highway passing through Porvorim.
“Some people have gone to the Supreme Court against the current alignment of the flyover. We are trying to consult with the petitioners for an amicable solution, and a mutual affidavit will be filed in Supreme Court to sort out the issue”, CM said.
Hold contractor responsible for road accidents: Rohan Khaunte
Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte demanded that State government should initiate action against the National Highway contractor for endangering the lives of motorists.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, Khaunte sought to know whether the State government considers that the National Highway is safe and motorable and what action should be taken against the road contractor.
Public Works Department Minister Deepak Prabhu Pauskar, who rose to reply to the Question, faltered and attempted to divert the issue by claiming that the NH between Patradevi to Mapusa would be completed by December 2021.
While refusing to assure any action against the contractor, the minister kept repeating the same reply, when Khaunte insisted on a specific answer.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant came to the rescue of a cabinet colleague, asserting that all the defect liability lies with the contractor, and he is asked to repair it.
He also stated that Authority Engineer was appointed to pinpoint the defects. But when Khaunte asked whether there were defects on the road, CM said that he would not be able to answer it without checking it with the Authority Engineer.
Khaunte pointed out that he and Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar have been often visiting road stretch at Guirim, which is in a dilapidated condition due to shabby work by the road contractor. The Porvorim MLA also pointed out that the road debris is thrown in the field.
Holding on the fort on behalf of the farmers, Khaunte questioned the sudden planning of link road for Mopa airport, thereby stressing the farmers, whose lands are being acquired for the connectivity.
He said that the farmers want land for the land acquired and not the financial compensation.
