PANAJI
The fate of the retaining wall project at the mouth of River Sal at Betul-Mobor hangs in balance. Work on the project was expected to begin post monsoon, but it's November now and neither any work has commenced at the river mouth till date nor the very machinery required to execute the job has made its presence felt at the Mobor beach till date.
On the other hand, construction material, including rubble, metal and sand is still dumped metres away from the waters. A visit to the Mobor beach on T
hursday revealed that portion of the rubble and stones lay scattered on the beach. Two pond-type water bodies have surfaced on the beach and it's not known whether they have anything to do with the dumping of construction material on the beach before the monsoon.
When The Goan sought to ascertain the status of the retaining wall project with the contractor M V Rao since work has still not commenced at the river mouth till date, a company representative made it clear that no work will begin unless the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) gives written instructions to take up the work with protection.
"The company had drawn attention of the GSIDC officials why work could not start at the river mouth despite mobilisation of machinery and dumping of the construction material. We are now looking for written instructions from the GSIDC to commence work on the retaining wall," a company representative told The Goan on Thursday, indicating that the GSIDC should resolve all issues before the company could start the work.
The contractor had earlier this year mobilised heavy machinery and had dumped construction material on the beach before the activity for dumping mud on the beach to pave way for vehicles to transport the construction material came under the scanner of a local NGO. The project was stuck for over a month or two as questions were raised whether the Fisheries department had obtained CRZ approval for the project as well as for debris dumping on
the beach for the movement of vehicles.
Incidentally, the Cavelossim panchayat body now wants the contractor to deposit additional money as a guarantee towards work on the restoration of the beach to its original condition. The contractor is believed to have deposited Rs 50,000 as a guarantee for the restoration of the beach.
Cavelossim Sarpanch Dennis told The Goan that the first gram sabha of the new panchayat body had resolved to ask the contractor to deposit additional money since the amount of Rs 50,000 may not be adequate to meet the beach restoration work. Accordingly, the panchayat had written to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to inspect the Mobor beach and arrive at the amount which would be required to restore the beach to its original
condition.
Sarpanch Dennis, however, lamented that the GCZMA has till date not replied back to the panchayat body. "Unless the GCZMA carries out an inspection and assess the situation, the panchayat will not be in a position to arrive at the additional amount required to be deposited by the contractor," Dennis asserted.
The retaining wall at the mouth of River Sal at Betul-Mobor was mooted by the Fisheries department to overcome the hostile navigation conditions at the river mouth, especially during post monsoons, hampering the movement of fishing vessels operating from the Cutbona fishing jetty.
When The Goan sought to ascertain the status of the retaining wall project with the contractor M V Rao since work has still not commenced at the river mouth till date, a company representative made it clear that no work will begin unless the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) gives written instructions to take up the work with protection.
"The company had drawn attention of the GSIDC officials why work could not start at the river mouth despite mobilisation of machinery and dumping of the construction material. We are now looking for written instructions from the GSIDC to commence work on the retaining wall," a company representative told The Goan on Thursday, indicating that the GSIDC should resolve all issues before the company could start the work.
The contractor had earlier this year mobilised heavy machinery and had dumped construction material on the beach before the activity for dumping mud on the beach to pave way for vehicles to transport the construction material came under the scanner of a local NGO. The project was stuck for over a month or two as questions were raised whether the Fisheries department had obtained CRZ approval for the project as well as for debris dumping on
the beach for the movement of vehicles.
Incidentally, the Cavelossim panchayat body now wants the contractor to deposit additional money as a guarantee towards work on the restoration of the beach to its original condition. The contractor is believed to have deposited Rs 50,000 as a guarantee for the restoration of the beach.
Cavelossim Sarpanch Dennis told The Goan that the first gram sabha of the new panchayat body had resolved to ask the contractor to deposit additional money since the amount of Rs 50,000 may not be adequate to meet the beach restoration work. Accordingly, the panchayat had written to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to inspect the Mobor beach and arrive at the amount which would be required to restore the beach to its original
condition.
Sarpanch Dennis, however, lamented that the GCZMA has till date not replied back to the panchayat body. "Unless the GCZMA carries out an inspection and assess the situation, the panchayat will not be in a position to arrive at the additional amount required to be deposited by the contractor," Dennis asserted.
The retaining wall at the mouth of River Sal at Betul-Mobor was mooted by the Fisheries department to overcome the hostile navigation conditions at the river mouth, especially during post monsoons, hampering the movement of fishing vessels operating from the Cutbona fishing jetty.
