ILLEGAL CUTTING OF FOOTPATH BY STEPHEN DIAS DONA PAULA
Received copy of the letter from Directorate of Public Grievances, Government of GOA addressed to PWD to inspect and verify concerns I raised on the subject in my open letter to the Governor to Goa "Illegality at Mathias project footpath broken up to tap Raj Bhavan pipeline". In my letter I had noted that there were concerns that the drinking water supplied to Raj Bhavan appears to be tapped by Mathias construction after breaking a footpath to have access to vehicular traffic at their entrance at two places on the main road originating from Bambolim plateau. It had been observed by Nelson Cabral, Corporator of CCP, that water was seeping out from the road where the pipeline was passing by the society. One likely possibility is that this was due to the Contractor of Mathias tapping into the Governor's drinking water pipeline after breaking through the footpath. I pointed out that this needs to be verified by PWD and they need to inspect the line of Mathias at the meter box to verify if the connection is made which hopefully will now happen. In this context we residents are worried if such illegal connection is being done at multiple locations, especially after taking note of the rapidly multiplying high rise buildings. If such illegal tapping goes unchecked drinking water will be affected to the common people. Already there exists scarcity of water all over Goa with many people in and around Dona Paula having to pay for tankers of water. No matter what the reason - when footpaths are cut without planning and permission, just for the convenience of a high rise society, it deprives pedestrians of a much needed unobstructed walking path. Such multiple exits and entrances cannot be allowed directly onto high speed roads without permissions etc. I have noticed such unplanned footpath cutting all over Panjim, especially in Dona Paula, Caranzalem, Campal, St. INEZ and Miramar etc. Will the PWD please looking this? Stephen Dias Social Activist Dona Paula 9422443110 11.4.2022