John Fernandes Quepem
Taking cognizance of Herald Report dated 24/10/2009 a concerned Citizen of
Quepem Adv. Fredrick Pereira in the interest of public has filed a complaint
before Sub-Divisional Magistrate Quepem requesting therein to stop the mining
transportation plying over the bridge.
In his complaint filed before the SDM Quepem Copy of which has been forwarded
to the District Magistrate, South-Goa , the Executive Chief Engineer P.W.D,
P.W.D Minister, Quepem MLA, Adv. Pereira has stated that the Quepem bridge
which was constructed about 50 years back has become weak and cracks have been
developed to it and as such is not feasible for heavy transportation.
He has further stated that upon bringing this to the attention of the local
PWD, the officials were quick to brush aside this grave issue, without applying
their mind by cursorily and vaguely declaring that the cracks were a result of
unevenness in the road surface.
That on the very same day, 24-10-09, the PWD officials were extra quick to
cover up these cracks and other adjacent area with tar and other road building
material so as to cover up the cracks, ( like how a wrinkled old woman does, by
putting on make-up to appear young and youthful ) and give a false and
deceptive impression, that nothing ever happened to the bridge and that it has
stood the test of time and also to keep away curious, concerned and
apprehensive minds from initiating any action to safeguard the bridge. “Out of
sight is out of mind” is the motto behind the cover up by the PWD, who, it
appears are doing so under directions of vested interests states the complaint
further.
The complaint further states that the local PWD officials ought to have
consulted and taken expert opinion in this matter from relevant experts as well
as conducted basic tests, as it involves the safety of the bridge and
eventually the life of the general public, in the event the bridge should
collapse, which appears imminent unless proper and immediate salvage measures
are taken
That the deterioration is further aggravated by the continuous and bumper to
bumper plying of heavy overloaded trucks laden with iron ore which amounts to
multiple Tons of unsafe and dangerous load on the bridge and it appears that
the very cause of these cracks is this suggestion.
Adv. Pereira in his complaint prayed to execute the statutory laws and
provisions envisaged under the Constitution of India and the Cr.P.C. to
safeguard the welfare and safety of the general public..
He has also prayed to ban the movement of heavy traffic from plying over the
Quepem bridge in the interest of public safety, until the bridge is declared
safe for such use by the concerned and competent authority.
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Tension rose high in Quepem town today morning as over a minor accident that
occurred in Quepem town the villagers of Quepem on Tuesday blocked the entire
mining transportation plying via Quepem town for over an hour.
The villagers of Quepem are annoyed with the reckless operation of mining
truck via Quepem as the mining truck are not following the terms and condition
which the truck owners and transport contractor has given in writing to the
villagers Quepemkar. The series of accident that took place in Quepem Bazar
since Friday further annoyed the villagers and were waiting for an opportunity
to stop the transport. The minor accident that took place on Tuesday morning
followed by a challenge given by a mining sub contractor to one of the
villager stating that ‘to stop the mining truck and show” generated the spark.
As soon as the accident took place around fifty villagers from Quepem town
gathered and blocked the mining truck. The blocked which started at around
9.00 am continued till 9.45am . The transportation via Quepem town is so heavy
that the line of loaded truck reached upto Igramol.
The Quepem P.I. Santosh Narvekar with police team rush to the site and try to
pacify the agitating villagers. He told the agitators that they cannot stop
transportation and told them that if they don’t want mining transport via
Quepem town they can to a get court order. When his attention was drawn to a
administrative order and questioned as to why the administrative order passed
by the Dy-Collector with regard to mining truck are not implemented he could
not reply.
The villagers then accused the police of being agent of the mining company as
when the villager come on the road against the mining immediately police
appears at the site however does nothing to prevent the nuisance such as
overloading, over speeding, traffic ham that is being caused by the mining
truck. They also accused the police of not implementing the administrative
orders passed by the Dy-Collector dated 26/11/2008 and 11/5/2009.
Then at around 9.35AM Dy-S.P. Rohidas Patre appeared at the spot and appealed
to the agitators to allow the mining truck to go. After a long discussion with
the Dy-S.P. that to when the Dy-SP assured that
his office will see that the mining truck are obeying all the rules and
regulations. At the time of discussion the Dy-SP and his police officer
present prevented a reported from taking the photos of the discussion. The
agitators then allow the mining transport to ply.
That inspite of the assurance given by the Dy-SP the overloading and
overspeeding of the mining truck via Quepem town continued unabated that to in
presence of police officers deputed at Quepem town.
Later on the Dy-SP. Called the agitators namely Amol kanekar, Sanjeev Borkar,
Evanjelisto D’Costa, Nandan Hegde, Sandeep Dessai, the mining contractor Ashok
Naik and other in his office for a discussion.
When contacted Dy-SP. Rohidas Patre denied the charges leveled against the
police and stated that the villagers did not blocked the mining truck but
stated that the blocked was caused due to the occurrence of miner accident.
Photo annexed: Seen in the photo 1. Mining truck lined up in Quepem bazaar, 2.
Villagers discussing with Dy-SP Rohidas Patre. Photo by john Fernandes.
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