Ports Minister Michael Lobo along with ward member Anthony Menezes while inaugurating the work on de-silting of nullahs in Calangute.
MAPUSA
Stating that work on de-silting of major nullahs in Calangute has been taken up in phases, Ports Minister, Michael Lobo requested people to remove their encroachments if any on the nullahs or else the government would do it.
“Those who have encroached on the nullahs should remove them on their own or else we will remove them with the JCB. The rain water should flow freely and that is why people should not encroach on nullahs,” Lobo said.
The Ports Minister was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the first phase of work to de-silt nullahs at Naikavaddo, Calangute.
Sarpanch Shawn Martins, former sarpanch and ward member, Anthony Menezes and other panchayat members were also present.
Continuing, Lobo said de-silting of nullahs was a long pending demand which has been taken up in phases in different wards of the coastal village.
“These nullahs are the main arteries which drain off rain water into the fields and rivers. For many years nobody had taken up the work on the nullahs. With the accumulation of silt, the level of the nullah and the ground has become one,” he said.
He said the nullah de-silting work at Agarvaddo and Gauravaddo has been completed and now it was the turn to de-silt the nullahs at Naikavaddo.
He further said that along with the de-silting work all the damaged retaining walls of the nullahs will also be repaired.
The estimated cost of the works is around Rs 60 lakhs.
Former sarpanch and ward member Anthony Menezes informed that the work taken up was of one of the main and longest nullahs in the village.
“Once the work is done ward 4 will never face any problem of flooding or water retention as rain water will freely move through the nullah,” Menezes said.
