Goemkarponn desk
MARGAO: In a shocking development this morning, an under construction retaining wall collapsed exposing the shoddy work by the contractor and the corruption in GSIDC.
With the incessant rains lashing the State for past couple of days, the under-construction footpath and retaining wall collapsed at Orlim.
The development comes close on the heels of the Orlim villagers filing a complaint with Goa State Infrastructure Development corporation (GSIDC) and local MLA regarding the poor work quality. But sadly, the corporation refused to act on the sub-standard works and the result was that just two weeks after in the first rain itself the wall collapsed.
Sources said the tender for the project was allotted to one M/s Souza Engineering Pvt. Ltd at an estimated cost of Rs 23,38,05,559.34. (Rs 23 cr) and M/s Construma Consultancy Pvt. Ltd. were appointed as consultants.
The project was to develop both sides of the existing road at Khareband area; Construction of footpath from the front of the St Micheal Church towards the main MDR road at Orlim; Construction of retaining wall with illumination and beautification of road with Dooth path along the road at Varca, Benaulim, Seraulim & Cavelossim.
As per the tender, the work was started in 21/12/2018 and was supposed to be completed by 2020 but due to pandemic it was delayed as there was labour shortage, sources said.
Moreover, this is the second project of M/s Souza Engineering Pvt. Ltd which is found to be sub-standard. Earlier, this month a road construction work at Quepem was red-flagged by locals due to poor quality.
The consultants of the project, M/s Construma Consultancy says the reason for wall-collapse was water-logging.
Jostan Olivera of M/S Construma Consultancy said “the fall collapsed due to water logging and not because of bad construction.”
Gaudencio Luis, Panch Member Orlim, says its very sad state of affairs at GSIDC, where corruption rules the roost.
“One can see the pathetic work done at Orlim which has collapsed even before its inauguration. Government is spending crores of rupees on development from tax payers money and here we can see development which is done to pocket money. One can see the foundation itself is faulty,” he said.
The panch says if you build everything on retaining wall without any support and foundation it will easily collapse as this is fertile soil,” he said.
He also charged the government is responsible for the destruction of the lake in Orlim.
Roayla Fernandes, a social worker from Benaulim, says “GSIDC has approved this project after reports of consultant and then tendered this work. The Corporation is to be held responsible for the loss to the tax payers money”.
She said the government failed to consider the importance of Biodiversity and Environment while designing such projects.
She demanded thorough investigations in the collapse of this wall, which has causes losses to the tune of crores.