The boulder which struck a house at Vaddem after a landslide in the area. Captured by : Vikram Nayak
VASCO
A house at the base of the hillock was damaged after a boulder came crashing down due to a landslide at Vaddem on Wednesday.
While no one was injured on account of the landslide, the incident caused panic among residents in the area, especially since the area is a landslide-prone area and a woman had been was killed in a landslide reported in the area a few years ago.
The house owner, Sebastiana Rodrigues, said she and her husband had already shifted to their brother's house before the incident took place.
"On Wednesday, a tree collapsed on our house and the fire brigade staff said they would clear the tree but warned us of a dangerous situation. At around 1 pm on Thursday, a boulder came rolling down and damaged the wall of our bathroom," said Rodrigues.
Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar and former Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Nandadeep Raut visited the site on Thursday to take stock of the situation and reassured people that the long-pending demand of a retaining wall was in the final stage.
"This 1-km stretch of area is on the base of the hillock and is a landslide-prone area. After a huge boulder fell on a house and killed a woman during a landslide a few years ago, we had proposed a retaining wall in the area,” said Salkar.
“Plans for this long-pending demand for a retaining wall are in the final stage with the tender already getting financial approval. We need a few NOCs from private landowners in this area after, which the work will begin for the entire area in phases, if need be, at least before next monsoons.”
“I have even apprised Chief Minister Pramod Sawant of the matter and requested him to take quick action because though we have earlier offered compensation to the kin of the deceased woman and owners of damaged houses, it is not a solution. We will put pressure to get the works of retaining wall in this area on top priority," said Salkar.
