the goan I network
MARGAO
This time when the embankment gave way a two-wheeler and a tree landed in the river. The latest collapse is about 50-70 meters away from the previous one that had occurred on June 20 just a few meters away from the Khareband bridge.
Till Tuesday noon, only the local Benaulim talathi had made his presence felt at the site, with no signs of either the disaster management officials or representatives of the Water Resources Department.
When local residents called up Captain of Ports James Braganza to shed light on the latest incident, he said it was strange that the authorities concerned haven’t done anything till date. He promised the residents that he would dispatch his hydrographic
officer to take stock of the
situation.
When The Goan called up Braganza, he said since the work is of emergency nature, the disaster management should step in and arrest further damage to the embankment. “My office can take up the work, but complying with the procedure will take nothing less than five-six months. It’s better that the disaster management steps in and attends to the emergency and dump sand bags to stop further damage,” Captain Braganza stated.
Asked whether desilting of the river bed is the cause behind the collapse of the embankments this monsoon, Capt Braganza answered in the negative, but hastened to add that his officers will study the situation.
What has come as a big surprise to local residents and officials alike is the inordinate delay by the disaster management as well as by the WRD to step in and prevent further damage to the embankment. A local resident Ubaldo Fernandes told The Goan that a huge crack is visible along the embankment close to last night’s collapse. “If the authorities adopt a negligent attitude towards the danger posed to the embankment, the adjoining road and the houses of residents may face danger in future,” he said.
