PORVORIM
Upset over road-widening work which has led to the flooding of fields in Socorro, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte took the contractor to task on Thursday and also wrote to CM Pramod Sawant in the matter.
Speaking to reporters, Khaunte said the issue of the fields in Carrem-Vaddem, which fall under Socorro panchayat, had been voiced by him during the assembly session in January.
“However to date, no action has been taken to remedy the situation. The contractor engaged in the highway expansion project continues dump mud, stones and rubble into the nullah right from Mapusa Tar along the highway at Guirim.”
“The engineering defect in positioning the drain pipe and the nullah near Sakwar Junction has worsened the situation.”
“The recent cyclone caused water levels in the nullah to rise at Carrem, Vaddem, Aradi and Paliem to rise, flooding the adjacent fields and this situation is likely to deteriorate during the monsoon,” said Khaunte,
Responding to complaints from farmers of Socorro, Khaunte had rushed to the nullah at Guirim and found several fields inundated.
He summoned the contractor involved in the highway expansion work and took him to task.
“I directed the contractor to remove the mud and stones dumped in the nullah and facilitate the smooth flow of water within a couple of days, failing which there would be an agitation,” said Khaunte.
On noticing the underground electrical cable submerged underwater, Khaunte warned that if the cable is damaged, it would be a major disaster and much of Bardez would be in darkness.
Socorro Panch Sanjay Pednekar said there are around 1,000 farmers in Socorro and surrounding areas.
“The farmers have suffered heavy losses and the government should pay them compensation,” said Pednekar.
