the goan I network
MARGAO
Blame it on the desilting of the river, embankments of the River Sal have collapsed at least at two places on the Benaulim side of the river since Monday night following heavy overnight rains.
While a portion of the tarred road caved in inside the River Sal estate at Benaulim, an embankment along the river stretch little further downstream at Pulvaddo has collapsed during the heavy showers, raising fears amongst local populace that the entire river embankment might be affected in a big way once the River Sal flows in full spate.
A delegation of Benaulim Panchayat comprising of Sarpanch Remy Fernandes, panch member Carmelin Fernandes, secretary Paresh Rane and talathi inspected the portion of the collapsed River Sal estate embankment and called for urgent action to prevent further damage to the embankment.
Sarpanch Remy told The Goan that the embankment has collapsed probably because of the desilting of the River Sal this season. He said the village has been told to convey the incident to the higher authorities to prevent further damage to the embankment.
Benaulim Zilla Panchayat member Maria Rebello echoed similar sentiments. She said desilting of the river bed by around three metres has affected the foundation, resulting in the collapse. “Our property at Pulvaddo-Benaulim is also affected with the embankment giving way Monday night. “The authorities ought to have first strengthened the embankment with a retaining wall before carrying out the desilting,” she said, adding that when she had called up the PWD officials to inspect the pace, they said
the matter falls within the domain of the Water Resources Department.
A resident of River Sal estate, Ubaldo Fernandes told The Goan that the government did a good job of desilting the river, but hastened to add that the authorities did not take into account the impact of dredging on the embankment. “Since there’s no retaining wall along the river course, the embankment along the river might come down when the Sal flows in all its fury,” he said, while demanding that the disaster management and other authorities should inspect the area and implement damage control measures.
When The Goan drew the attention of Fisheries Minister and Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado, who was instrumental in getting the River Sal desilted, said he would intimate the concerned authorities to inspect the area and initiate measures to stop any further damage to the river embankments.
