Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Amit Patkar visited the landslide site at Cortalim junction on Thursday, expressing serious concerns over the ongoing situation. According to Patkar, the landslide area where illegal hill cutting had been reported last week. He stated that inquiries made at the time were met with claims that the Disaster Management Authority had granted permission for the activity. However, upon further investigation, it was revealed that no such permission had been given.
“When we contacted the Deputy Collector, he confirmed that no authorization was issued under disaster management for hill cutting at the site,” said Patkar. “This proves that the Public Works Department (PWD) has been lying to the people of Goa.”
Patkar criticized the government for its failure to address the issue and demanded an immediate inquiry into the actions of the Assistant Engineer (AE) involved. He stressed the need for accountability, stating, “The AE responsible for this illegal activity should be investigated, and stern action must be taken.”
The landslide has resulted in the closure of the road leading to the Madkai ferry, causing severe inconvenience to the local population. Patkar highlighted the dangers posed by the closure, as motorists are now forced to drive on the wrong side of the road, increasing the risk of accidents.
“This is a clear example of the government’s collapse and failure to manage basic infrastructure. If the road is not opened by tomorrow, we will have no choice but to take matters into our own hands and halt traffic on the National Highway,” warned Patkar.
The GPCC President has called on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to take immediate action and resolve the issue before it escalates further.