Panaji: Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira said that North district authorities will ascertain the legality of shops alongside the stretch from the Mapusa Tar junction road near the flyover towards Bastora. He also directed the authorities concerned to build a drain alongside this stretch on priority.
The stretch (near the shops towards Bastora village) is riddled with large potholes and the entire area gets flooded with the situation worsening by the day, thus putting the lives of those commuting along this stretch at risk. In view of this, the MLA had called for a joint meeting of officials on Wednesday.
A site inspection was conducted by deputy collector Yashaswini B, IAS along with Bardez mamlatdar, executive engineer of PWD (Roads), Bastora panch members and PI traffic, Mapusa.
Ferreira said that action will be taken based on a list that will be drawn up to ascertain the legality of the shops.
“We have identified the shops along this road that have been elevated and hindering the free flow of water. The mamlatdar and deputy collector are working together to get a checklist done to ascertain the legality of these structures. Action will be taken and then we can get a good resolution. The immediate priority is getting the gutter work done. There is no flow of water as it accumulates in this area. I have instructed the PWD to ensure that the gutter is completed immediately. Some area in front of the shops may have to make way for the gutter work. If anyone obstructs, including the shopkeepers, I am giving the authorities concerned a free hand to seal those shops. If you obstruct anything for public convenience, then we will have to ensure that the shop is closed. One must look at the greater good of the public and not the greater good of the individual,” he said.
“This is unacceptable what is happening. People have fallen into these ditches. Specially when they are filled with water, you can’t make out what is there. Some people have suffered minor injuries and bruises. There should be prompt action anticipating that things could get worse. I had informed PWD, and they had started the work on repairing the road. However, there was heavy rainfall. PWD had done some filling work, but heavy rain washed it out,” he said.
On the parking of vehicles that obstruct vehicular movement, he said, “The PWD has shown the plan for the service roads and the works to be done from Bastora Tar bridge to the Aldona side. 5 areas have been identified. There is also a notification for no parking. Bastora panchayat has already been requested to put up the boards, but this is yet to be done. I have informed that if it is a problem, contact me, I will get someone to sponsor the boards and we will put up the boards with the approval of the deputy collector and traffic police,” he said.
The deputy collector said that the matter would be expedited. “the mamlatdar and talathi have already conducted an inspection of this area. We were not able to take up the hearings due to some administrative reasons. We will expedite the hearings from now on. Some matters are sub judice before me as well. We have conducted another inspection on illegal shops and gaddas. We will inform the panchayat and BDO on the parking issues in this area in view of the inconvenience to the public. We will try to conduct a meeting with the panchayat secretary and BDO to expedite this matter,” she said.
The PI of Mapusa traffic Cell present said that unless no-parking boards are put up they can’t do anything to stop the parking of vehicles, but until then, personnel will be deployed for patrolling to streamline vehicular movement.
“Bastora sarpanch was not present despite my telephonic conversation with him. Two bastora panch members are present here. I don’t know if he could not make it due to some work or he deliberately skipped this meeting,” Ferreira added.
Regards,
Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira
Aldona MLA