Uski Vaddo locals in Sao Mathias-Divar wade through knee deep water. Captured by : Manuel Vaz
OLD GOA
The submerged roads of Muddi and Uski Vaddo in Sao Mathias-Divar (Malar) have cut off several families from the rest of the village with locals being forced to walk in knee-deep water to get access to the mainland.
Highlighting the difficulties faced by the locals in the twin wards, which consist of over 30 houses, a local resident Chillaya Sawant said that they have been facing the problem since May 16 when cyclone Tauktae hit the State.
“During cyclone Tauktae there were three breaches in the main bund due to which there was pressure on the internal bund. The internal bund also breached and since then saline water is submerging the roads leading to the two wards during high tide thereby creating a lot of hardships to the locals,” Sawant added and decried that till date, they have not received help from any quarter.
“When the roads get submerged it is difficult for the locals to cross to and fro. There are senior citizens, ladies and children residing in the two wards and during medical emergency, it becomes a herculean task to get help,” Sawant pointed out while questioning whether the government will wait to act till a tragedy strikes.
“The politicians come begging for votes, but where are they now?” he further questioned while urging Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to look into the matter on an urgent basis and solve the issue at the earliest.
Former Sao Mathias sarpanch Bhushan Bhomkar informed that the problem has been occurring since the past four years due to the neglect of the bunds.
“Earlier, the bunds used to be repaired regularly but now due to lack of manpower the breaches in the bunds are not repaired on time due to which the breaches grow and saline water enters inland,” Bhomkar stated.
He further said that a permanent solution to the problem is construction of concrete retaining walls all along the main bund, which protects the island from River Mandovi.
As a temporary relief, the locals have urged for immediate repairs of the breaches in both the main bund and the internal bund.
Another local pointed out that the street lights are not working and those returning home from night shift find it difficult to cross the submerged road in complete darkness.
“Some days back a person slipped and fell in the fields. Luckily he knew to swim due to which he was able to save himself from drowning,” the local informed while urging the government to act before any untoward incident occurs.
ZP member assures to take up
issue with ministers concerned
OLD GOA: Corlim ZP member Siddesh Naik has assured the affected Malar locals that he would set up a meeting either with the chief minister, WRD minister or the Agriculture minister so that their issue of submerged roads is resolved.
Naik made the assurance as he visited the Muddi ward of Malar-Divar where a large number of people had gathered to highlight the difficulties faced by them due to the submerged roads.
“I will set up a meeting with the CM or the WRD minister or the Agriculture minister to discuss the problem. A delegation of the villagers will also be taken along to put forth their suggestions on a temporary solution,” Naik stated adding that he will also try and find out on the progress made for a permanent solution to the problem.
