the goan I network
MARGAO
Newly-appointed Water Resources Department (WRD) Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues has a task cut out right behind his backyard in his native village Sirlim.
And, his task is two-fold: Restore the irrigation canal network, which must have been put in place by spending crores of rupees in Dramapur-Sirlim village before he took over the WRD reins around a decade and half ago.
And, secondly protect the picturesque hillock which is facing denudation for want of any protection as evident by the debris quietly flowing into the adjoining irrigation canal.
A visit to the irrigation canal has revealed that debris from the hillock are continuously finding its way into the canal, completely blocking the water channel for a good stretch. It’s another matter that water from the canal is not being used to irrigate the fields, but local residents, including members of the Dramapur-Sirlim Biodiversity Committee, want the restoration of the canal as well as protection of the picturesque hillock.
Says Chairman, Dramapur-Sirlim Biodiversity Committee, Domnick Noronha, “Our main concern is the filling up of the irrigation canal with debris, including stones and mud, sliding into the water canal. The canal is completely blocked for a good stretch and this has to be restored on top priority.”
Domnick and the local biodiversity committee came to know about the indifference of WRD officials towards the irrigation canal when local panch member Remy brought the ground reality to their notice. “We feel the WRD can take up the restoration work by building a retaining wall on its embankment to stop the sludge and debris from finding their way into the canal. Fortunately, we have the local MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues now heading the WRD Ministry and a delegation of local villagers will call on our MLA to take up the work on a war-footing,” Domnick added.
Locals say the debris from the hillock began sliding into the water canal after an attempt was made to make a road on the foot of the hill around a decade ago. Work on the road project was reportedly abandoned after locals protested, but no steps were initiated to protect the hill from further destruction.
Locals feared that a landslide may hit the hillock one day if protection measures are not put in place at the earliest.
Inquiries revealed that the local Comunidade and the panchayat had dashed off a letter to the District Collector, South, way back in 2012 to take up protection measures, but in vain. “Nothing has changed on the ground since the time the local panchayat body and the Comunidade had requested the District Collector to take up the hillock restoration work,” Domnick said, while pinning hopes on the local MLA, who has only recently taken over the reins of the WRD.
