MAPUSA
Even as the flood-affected villages in Bardez were limping back to normalcy, locals had only one story to tell, that the sudden release of water from the Tillari dam led to flooding of their homes.
On Friday, only the villagers of Camurlim, Nadora, Revora and Colvale who have houses on the bank of the River Chapora were affected by the sudden rise in water.
According to the elders in the village, the release of water from the Tillari dam resulted in the sudden surge of water in River Chapora which then inundated all the low-lying areas in the four villages.
“There are no two ways about it. The sudden and huge quantity of water released from the Tillari dam resulted in the floods in our villages. What if some people had lost their lives in the calamity? The concerned authorities should be taken to task for such an irresponsible act,” said Vithu Naik, a resident of Camurlim, who had to wade in knee-deep water inside his house.
Naik was backed by his neighbour Prashant who said that the officials of the Tillari had informed the local authorities in the State that they would release the water from the dam as water in the dam had reached the danger level due to the incessant rains.
“This has been happening almost every year. The areas in these four villages get flooded either at the end of July or within the first fortnight of August when the water of the Tillari dam is released. The government should look into this,” Prashant opined.
But Mahesh Rane, a resident of Raneche Zunvem in Nadora had a little different story to tell. He said water from Kalnem mine in Maharashtra coupled with the water released from the Tillari dam has resulted in the sudden surge of water in the River Chapora. “The water that entered the villages and houses was slurry and red in colour. Clearly, the water from the Kanem mine and the Tillari dam has resulted in the flood.” The government needs to inquire into this aspect,” said Rane.
Incidentally, the entire area of Raneche Zunvem got submerged with water in Friday’s deluge.
Officials assess damage
MAPUSA: Senior officer with the Goa government, P S Reddy visited the flood-affected villages in Bardez to get firsthand information about the disaster caused by the floods in the area. He was assisted by Bardez Mamlatdar Laxmikant Kuttikar and Joint Mamlatdar Rajaram Parab.
