Coutinho made this charge on account of Colmorod/Ratwado area being cut off from water supply and electricity, due to the pipeline burst at Colmorod along the 4 lane road.
Coutinho informed that around midnight on 26th May, a pipeline burst at Colmorod near Kiran Steel traders, “the supply of line was shut down on 27th Morning. While the whole day of 27th passed off with the workers hunting for the place of rupture, they finally realized that there were electricity cables at the location. Thereby making it necessary for the Electricity shutdown to facilitate the repair work” he added.
Coutinho informed GNH that he visited the site this morning, called the AE Prasad Sakardande at the site and brought to his notice that at the time of construction of the 4 lane road, water supply lines were laid on either side of the 4 lane road* to avoid disturbance/damage of the road. “Till today these lines laid through the GSIDC have not been charged with water supply. The reasons for this need to be inquired into as lakhs of rupees from the public exchequer has already been spent”, Coutinho thundered. “Engineer Mr. Prasad Sakardande, who is new to the posting assured to look into this matter” He added.
“The 4 lane road was executed when Mr. Kamat was the Chief Minister, by making best use of me, as a councillor, at the time of clearing the acquired land, thereby destroying my relationship with many land loser”, Mr. Coutinho stated. But eventually what got executed is ill planned work, where people are suffering now, Coutinho added.
Electricity/Public utility ducts consisting of two 300mm diameter concrete pipes on either side of the road were provided supposedly for the laying of electricity cables. These ducts, which cost the public exchequer over 65 lakhs, were never used as they didn’t match the specifications required by the electricity department. And now act as a metro for rodents, Coutinho stated while mocking at the MLA’s alleged ill planned works.
“The BJP government also is not in the mood to check upon this criminal wastage of public funds as they are waiting to welcome the Margao MLA on their side”, Coutinho charged.
Shadow Council for Margao has demanded that the government and the concerned authorities i.e. the PWD and GSIDC should come clear on this criminal wastage of public funds, “failure of which shall compel us to file a PIL for this wastage of precious resources” warned SCM.
