---------------------------------------------------------- Archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goa-net/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Goanet2003/ ----------------------------------------------------------
Find a representative who will work for you. Next election show them you mean business. ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 2:33 PM Subject: [GOANET] Crossing Socorro Open tunnel is a nightmare to villagers. > ---------------------------------------------------------- > Archives: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goa-net/ > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Goanet2003/ > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > Documented by Goa Desc Documentation Service > & circulated by Goa Civic & Consumer Action Network > (GOA CAN)<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Ph:2252660 > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > CROSSING SOCORRO OPEN TUNNEL IS A > NIGHTMARE TO VILLAGERS > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > For the villagers of Socorro, Bardez, 'bobd' an open tunnel, > has been the main artery and the shortest access road. > Since the time it was taken up for 'repairs' nearly a year > ago, the bobd has become one of the main issues affecting > the villagers. > > All the government authorities have been approached by > the Socorro Civic and Consumer Forum, but a solution > still eludes them. It has become highly risky and volatile > to use the tunnel as the last monsoon saw several > landslides following which the road had to be closed for > vehicular traffic as well as for pedestrians. > > At the recent meeting of the forum, many members > decried the lackadaisical attitude that seems to be > displayed by the officials concerned regarding the highly > volatile condition of the Socorro bobd open tunnel which > is the main and shortest access road from the NH-17 > to the Zoswaddo, Maina and Ambirna wards of Socorro > village. > > The work, taken in hand a few months before the > Assembly elections, seemed a welcome move to > provide relief to the villagers by cutting the height of the > steep road which passed between high and nearly vertical > walls at the top of the hill. In fact, no one knew the logic > behind what was perceived as an altruistic step. The > tunnel was cut vertically at 90 degree. However after > several months of cutting, the road was opened to public > just before the monsoons without asphalting. > > During the monsoons the road became wet, muddy > and slippery and there were several landslides through > which 4-wheelers could just squeeze past. A number > of accidents were also reported. At the gram sabha in > July '02, the sarpanch could not provide an explanation > about the status of the bobd. > > It was expected that the government would take up > the matter after the BJP leaders were apprised of the > situation during the gram abhiyan campaign in > October 2002. Incidentally, after the BJP lost the > seat (Aldona), there has hardly been any work > undertaken on the bobd. > > The present MLA Dayanand Narvekar has also > been apprised of the situation during his meetings > with the villagers on more than two occasions. > > Fearing a law and order situation arising from > a possible collapse of the walls of the bobd, the > Socorro Civic and Consumer Forum alerted the > mamlatdar of Bardez to conduct a site inspection > and take immediate action under Section 133 of CrPC. > However, all the action taken seems to be merely > cosmetic as only the rubble from the minor landslides > has been cleared while the danger still remains. > > Subsequent to the last meeting of the Forum, the > mamlatdar and the Deputy Collector have been > served with reminders with copies to the Police, > Fire and Emergency Services Department and > the Collector, North Goa.The officials concerned > have also been reminded of the threat of damage > to life and property. > > Other matters discussed at the Forum meeting > were Health issues, facilities available at the local > sub-health centre, stray dog nuisance, stray cattle > menace causing loss of livelihood to farmers, review > of the home delivery of gas cylinders, gram sabha > proposals and traffic safety on the Highway. The cable TV > problems and the preparation of senior citizen ID cards > also came up for discussion. > > The next meeting of the Forum is on February 6 > at 6.30 pm at Zoswaddo, says a press note issued > by Valentine Coelho, convenor of the Forum. > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > HERALD 1/2/03 > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > ======================================= > GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE > Documentation + Education + Solidarity > 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 > Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > website: www.goadesc.org > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy > ======================================= >
