MAPUSA
Adopting a two-pronged strategy to tackle the rising water level in Guirim and surrounding areas, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday directed officials to immediately de-silt key areas to bring the water level down and make roads accessible to locals and further stressed the need to de-silt the Tar River as a long term solution to the problem.
“Tidal effect coupled with illegal land-filling of fields has led to this sudden rise of water in Guirim and surrounding villages. As an immediate relief to locals certain pockets will be de-silted to drain the water out. We are planning to de-silt the Tar River to avoid recurring of such incidents in future,” Sawant said.
The CM was addressing the media during his inspection of the area near Hotel Green Park in Guirim which was inundated due to the incessant rains.
Aldona MLA Glenn Ticlo, Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza and Saligao MLA, Jayesh Salgoankar and key officials from WRD, PWD and agriculture along with sarpanchas and panchas of surrounding villages were also present.
Continuing, Sawant said the expansion work of NH66 has also partly contributed to the problem but it was basically man-made issue as a lot of people have carried out land-filling of their fields in the area.
He further informed that the director of agriculture has been asked to carry out a survey of affected farmers in the area who will then be accordingly compensated for the loss.
“Quite a few people have suffered due to water logging in the area. I apologise to people who have been inconvenienced,” he said.
He said de-silting of Tar River was the only long term solution so that water does not get accumulated in fields along both sides of the NH66.
“WRD and PWD will soon draw a plan on how to go about in resolving the issue. We will have to also take Captain of Ports into confidence. We will find a way out before the next monsoon,” the CM assured.
Former Guirim sarpanch and present panch, Fondu Naik informed that around 25 families from his ward could not move out from their homes as the entire road has been inundated for the last five days.
Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgoankar and Aldona MLA Glenn Ticlo also provided suggestions during the inspection.
