------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NGO's protest brings work on Mungul Bridge to grinding halt ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ All work on the Mungul Bridge - linking Margao to the coastal belt of Colva came to a complete halt on Thursday morning after consumer rights activists demanded forthwith stoppage of construction activity.
The activists attached to 'Goa Can' and Betalbatim Civic and Consumer Forum maintained that undertaking bridge work on the eve of monsoons would cause tremendous disruption and dislocation of life for residents of the localities of Mungul, Pedda Benaulim, Colva, Seraulim and Per-Seraulim, Bealbatim, Majorda and Murda since the bridge connects them to Margao City.
They pointed out that the new causeway has been built at a much lower level, apprehending the river will wash many feet above the road in first rains. This new road, they claimed, would serve the post-monsoon season but certainly not during the rains.
Earlier in the day, a delegation of the activists led by Goa Can Co-ordinator, Roland Martins called on the district Collector, South J B Singh and highlighted the utter neglect of safety measures at all public construction sites in the city.
When contacted, the Collector opined that time was too short for commencement of bridge construction work at Mungul in view of the monsoons. "I will write a letter to the contractor and the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation on the matter," he said.
In fact, one could see labourers engaged in closing the 60 inch trench dug on both sides of the bridge, while a vehicle lifted away the construction material dumped at the site this evening. Inquiries revealed that the contractor has been ordered to stop work pending further orders.
Meanwhile, the Betalbatim Civic and Consumer Forum has lodged a complaint with the Margao police regarding the closure of the old bridge at Mungul and diversion of traffic to the new causeway laid to the side of the old bridge since the last three or four days.
They requested the police to ensure that traffic is resumed on the bridge as per the assurance given by GSIDC and that the bridge is not demolished before the rains.
The new bridge on the Margao-Colva road was supposed to be ready by May 31, by this deadline, only the demolition of the bridge would have been completed" which would cause hardships to villagers, stated BCCF convenor Xavier Cota.
Cota also referred to the hardships faced by the residents of Navelim, Rawanfond, St. Jose de Areal, Paroda, Quepem, Sanvordem, Sanguem due to the demolition of the Rawanfond bridge, which he claimed was done without following the set procedure. ------------------------------- HERALD 7/5/04 page 3 -------------------------------
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