Panchkula: Saath India, an NGO, carry out repair work on potholes at different parts of Panchkula. Volunteers of NGO along with local residents, got potholes filled in Sectors 7, 8 and 10. Sachin Goyal, a chartered accountant and one of the founders of the NGO, said the potholes posed a serious threat to commuters, especially two-wheeler riders, following which they decided to approach the district administration, HUDA and the Municipal Corporation for getting these repaired. “Despite our efforts, nobody paid heed,” he said.
The NGO after approaching district administration waited for 15 days for the administration to act but when they got no response from the administration they decided to get the potholes filled. The NGO hired labour and got the potholes filled.
A volunteer said the initiative was taken to prevent road accidents and make government officials realise their responsibility. Area residents were surprised to see NGO volunteers getting the potholes filled. Fourteen potholes were filled during the drive, which continued for around five hours, at a cost of around Rs 35,000 by the NGO.
The NGO has also launched a WhatsApp number where residents can post pictures of potholed roads so that it can fill these. Goyal said they were spreading information about the WhatsApp number among residents and would continue to fill potholes if the officials concerned failed to act.