Panaji: Congress party in a letter to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has demanded to conduct an inquiry into the road works tendered and executed by PWD during last five years. It has also asked CM to fix accountability and initiate stringent action against those responsible for mis-utilization of the funds, sanctioned for roads.
“This is to bring to your notice that the conditions of the roads across the State of Goa are presently in pathetic and dilapidated condition. This has resulted in grave inconvenience to the general public at large. The worsening of the road condition has resulted in numerous accidents causing serious injuries to the commuters. The condition of roads is affecting life of every Goan and those visiting our State thereby clearly bringing bad repute and name to the State,” Chodankar said.
He claimed that during last five years, the State Government has spent around Rs 2400 crores on roads, while Central Government through its ambitious National Highways project spent around Rs 3500 crores for improving the road network in Goa.
“This illustrates that during last five years, around Rs. 6000 crores of tax payers money has been spent on roads in the State. In this present scenario the accountability of these Rs. 6,000 crores is a big issue as how and where the funds have been utilised as the road conditions across the State have worsened,” Congress leader charged.
Chodankar alleged that the bad roads all across the State are result of mass corruption in PWD. “Today it is open secret that commission and kickbacks are paid in PWD, let’s accept the fact,” he alleged.
“In view of the above, you are hereby called upon to conduct a Vigilance inquiry into the allegations floating on corruption in Public Works Department and inquiring all road works tendered and executed during last five years. The inquiry should be done in a time bound manner, fix accountability and take stringent action against all those who are responsible for mis-utilisation of public funds & risking the lives of Goans,” he said.
