Cumbarjua MLA Rajesh Faldessai on Monday praised Power Minister Ramkrishna “Sudin” Dhavalikar for executing works worth ₹60 crore in the Cumbarjua constituency for underground cabling, but lamented that the department had completely neglected restoring the roads after breaking them to lay the cables.
“I’m happy to say that in my constituency, a lot of work has been done for underground cabling because there are a lot of trees in areas like St Estevam, Divar, Cumbarjua, and Corlim. This time, we did not face any major problems with electricity. So, I congratulate them,” Faldessai said.
He, however, sought an assurance from the minister that the roads would be restored to their original condition, failing which the people would continue to suffer.
“I want an assurance from the minister. There is no doubt that underground cabling is needed, but the roads are completely damaged. It is so dangerous that people are falling. Last time, I spent my own money to fix the roads. When you break the roads, you have to restore them. Children are falling, and mud and dust are entering homes and fields. In some places, there are ditches one foot deep,” Faldessai said.
He added that the contractor was nowhere to be seen, leaving residents with no one to approach regarding the damaged roads.
“The officials are responsive, but the contractor is nowhere to be seen,” he said.