Expedite work on dust mitigation, Porvorim service roads, says HC

Panaji: The high court of Bombay at Goa on Thursday directed the contractor of the Porvorim elevated corridor to ensure that unfinished roadwork is completed expeditiously, particularly concerning service road improvements and dust pollution mitigation.

The high court is hearing a PIL filed by advocate Moses Pinto concerning the execution of the NH 665 elevated corridor project.

Rajdeep Bhattacharya, representing the company, submitted to the high court that it is regularly carrying out water sprinkling to control dust pollution and has engaged five tankers.

The contractor stated that the tankers carry out water sprinkling at 7am, 11am, 3pm, 6pm, and 10pm. The company submitted an execution plan showing different pockets and the tentative dates on which it intends to barricade portions of the road to carry out work. The PWD grants permission to barricade the road only after the diversion roads on both sides are hotmixed.

Porvorim resident Eurico Mascarenhas, who was made an intervener in the petition in the high court, submitted to the court that in addition to providing drainage in lieu of existing drainage, which is filled with mud, new temporary drainages touching compound walls should be executed wherever possible to avoid flooding of the road and particularly the construction site.

Mascarenhas, who is a senior citizen, also suggested that permanent drainage be planned so that water from the compounds of houses does not enter the utility chambers and electrical installations like transformers.

He told the court that there is no availability of streetlights or any form of illumination on the road.