PWD minister: Will speak to Porvorim corridor contractor about pollution

Panaji: PWD minister Digambar Kamat on Wednesday said he will raise the issue of dust pollution with Rajendra Singh Bhamboo Infra (RRSM), the contractor building the six-lane elevated corridor at Porvorim.

Kamat told TOI that he has scheduled a review meeting with the contractors on Monday to look into the challenges affecting local residents. “I will tell them to take up dust mitigation measures,” he said.


Tourism minister and Porvorim MLA, Rohan Khaunte, called for stronger measures to mitigate dust along the NH 66 stretch. “This dust pollution is because of the ongoing construction of the bridge.”

“It is a temporary issue and we must understand this. At the same time, the PWD also needs to ensure that the contractor is accountable for spraying water to suppress the dust,” said Khaunte.

Open-source data reveals that breathing the air in Goa’s capital, Panaji, or the nearby legislative hub, Porvorim, is mathematically equivalent to smoking 3.2 cigarettes a day, or 96 a month. The cause is the sheer concentration of PM2.5, fine particulate matter suspended in the air.

Doctors are seeing a jump in respiratory ailments such as asthma and bronchitis, particularly among senior citizens and young children. Khaunte said the contractor was repeatedly directed to spray water along the stretch to keep dust to a minimum. “I would like to see some more improvement from the contractor’s part. There has to be some accountability, that is what we are asking for,” he said.



Get an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here