the goan I network
OLD GOA
North Goa Collector R Menaka accompanied by Deputy Collector Vivek H P, Joint Mamlatdar Dattaraj Dessai, along with concerned talathis and village sarpanchas, visited the flood-affected areas of Tiswadi on Sunday which included Muddi, Vanjua and Bakro Vaddo in Sao Mathias-Divar, Akhada in St Estevam, Rambhuvan Wadda and Ganvanth in Cumbarjua, and Panch Manxer in Carambolim.
Starting first, the collector visited the affected areas of Sao Mathias where sarpanch Sadanand Phadte, Goltim-Navelim deputy sarpanch Mario Pinto, members of tenants association and a large number of villagers joined them.
The collector was informed about the laying of the foundation stone for a bridge to Divar way back in 2012, which however has not become a reality till now. The collector was also briefed on details about how the flooding cut off the areas of Muddi, Vanjua and Bakro Vaddo thereby affecting the locals residing there.
The collector also visited the house of Nanda Kerkar which had been flooded for five consecutive days. She also directed her staff to arrange for a health camp in the village and also undertake fogging as water logging was seen in some areas.
Menaka also visited the bundhs where breaching took place and also inquired whether the tenants associations are functioning properly. She also took stock of the damage to the vast farmland in the area.
The collector and her team reached St Estevam where they visited Akhada which had been cut off from the rest of the island for five days.
St Estevam sarpanch Joanita D’Costa, panch Surendra Volvoikar, Ilha Verde farmers club members, and affected villagers also joined. The team visited the houses where flooding took place and took stock of any damage that might have been done due to the flooding.
The villagers apprised the collector on the need to construct a retaining wall so that the river water doesn’t enter their houses.
Later, the villagers also requested that the height of the road that leads to Akhada and Tolto should be increased to at least 2.5 metres so that if any eventuality like this takes place, the villagers are not cut off from the rest of the village.
The villagers also pointed out that another road has developed cracks and needed urgent repairs before it gives way.
Ilha Verde farmers club vice president Shailendra Afonso pointed out how the fields which have been brought under cultivation through community farming have been totally damaged due to the flooding and requested help from the government.
The collector along with her team then visited Ganvanth and Rambhuvan Wadda in Cumbarjua where sarpanch Nishita Gawde joined them.
At Rambhuvan Wadda, some villagers pointed out that a retaining wall was needed to provide protection to the low-lying houses from the river waters. At Ganvanth apart from flooding of the houses, the collector was apprised on the damage to the crops.
After that, Manekar and her team reached Panch Manxer-Carambolim with sarpanch Uttam Murgaonkar, local panch Rajesh Dessai, former sarpanch and panch Wilson Valladers, and affected villagers joining them.
The villagers apprised the collector about how three bundhs namely Dongzo, Nangonzo and Manxer to Petter were providing protection from the saline water.
But with the bundhs not maintained, Dongzo and Nangozo bundhs have washed away and Manxer to Petter bundh is the only bundh that is currently providing protection to the houses.
The villagers pointed out that this bundh too is breached at many places resulting in the saline water overflowing into the houses of the locals.
The collector also made note of the non-functional sluice gates and asked the concerned talathi to submit report of the same to her office on an urgent basis.
