THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA: Acknowledging the need to commission a study to understand why North Goa experienced excessive flooding, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said he would also write to his Maharashtra counterpart on the operational schedule of the Tillari dam.
“A study to look into the causes that led to sudden flooding in parts of North Goa is required. I have issued instructions to concerned officers of the WRD and PWD to study the matter and submit a report,” Sawant said.
The chief minister made the statement on the sidelines of a function to distribute cheques to beneficiaries who faced the brunt of the recent floods in Bardez.
Sawant said that WRD Chief Engineer Sandeep Nadkarni was in communication with his Tillari counterparts on putting a system in place on the operational schedule over release of water from the Tillari dam.
“I will also be writing a letter to the Maharashtra CM with regards to scheduling of operations of the Tillari dam vis-Ã -vis release of water,” he said.
One of the main reasons for the floods in North Goa was due to release of surplus water from the Tillari dam by Maharashtra as it had reached its maximum capacity.
Parts of four villages in Bardez went under water when the Maharashtra government was forced to open all the four gates of Tillari dam on August 6 due to excess rainfall in the region.
Water entered the houses located along the Chapora River in Camurlim, Revora, Nadora and Colvale due to sudden surge of water released from the Tillari dam.
North Goa Collector R Menaka informed that a total of 243 homes were affected in the four villages of Bardez.
She said a survey conducted by the revenue department has found five houses fully damaged while 238 were partially affected.
The government will distribute Rs 42.19 lakh in the taluka to compensate the affected families.
While handing the cheque to a flood victim, the chief minister said that in the past the government doled Rs 2,500 as minimum benefit and the victims received the princely sum after six months.
“This time we have decided to offer minimum amount of Rs 10,000 per house and the government has kept its word of distributing the assistance before the Chaturthi festival,” Sawant said.
He said the government will also offer financial help to farmers who have suffered losses due to the excess rain.
The CM further said that government has reached out to everyone without differentiating on the basis of caste or creed.
“If by chance anyone has been left out then they can approach the mamlatdar and the government will definitely compensate them,” he said.
Revenue Minister Jennifer Monseratte, Tivim MLA Nilkant Halarnkar, North Goa Collector R Menaka, Deputy Collectors for Bardez, Sudhir Kerkar and Kabir Shirgaonkar, Mamlatdar Laxmikant Kuttikar and other revenue officials were also present.
