VALPOI
Five houses that were destroyed by the floods at Khotoda in Sattari in July last year have been rebuilt, but the Harijan families still await flood control measures in the area and fear that their houses could meet with the same fate during these monsoons.
The floods on July 22-23, 2021, described as the worst in decades, had caused severe damage to several parts of Sattari taluka.
The sudden flooding of the Mhadei River had led to the destruction of five houses of the Harijan brothers at Shivajinagar in Khotoda Panchayat. The five houses were subsequently rebuilt within six months with the help of the government and local MLA Vishwajeet Rane.
However, families in the area have claimed that the State government has failed to implement flood control measures and have feared the possibility of a recurrence of floods which could threaten 30 houses in the area.
These 30 houses in the Shivajinagar area are located barely about 30 metres from the Mhadei River and locals have been demanding measures to prevent similar floods and destruction to houses in the area.
When contacted, the Harijan brothers said when the floods had destroyed their houses while also causing extensive damage to the property last year, government officials had promised that flood control measures would be implemented to prevent a similar disaster in the future.
“But so far, no action has been taken. If the floods hit again this year, our houses could be at high risk once again,” said one of the Harijan brothers.
“That horrible memory of our house getting destroyed by the flood still haunts us. If there is a similar flood this year, our houses could be destroyed yet again and who will be held responsible?”
The floods on July 22-23, 2021, described as the worst in decades, had caused severe damage to several parts of Sattari taluka.
The sudden flooding of the Mhadei River had led to the destruction of five houses of the Harijan brothers at Shivajinagar in Khotoda Panchayat. The five houses were subsequently rebuilt within six months with the help of the government and local MLA Vishwajeet Rane.
However, families in the area have claimed that the State government has failed to implement flood control measures and have feared the possibility of a recurrence of floods which could threaten 30 houses in the area.
These 30 houses in the Shivajinagar area are located barely about 30 metres from the Mhadei River and locals have been demanding measures to prevent similar floods and destruction to houses in the area.
When contacted, the Harijan brothers said when the floods had destroyed their houses while also causing extensive damage to the property last year, government officials had promised that flood control measures would be implemented to prevent a similar disaster in the future.
“But so far, no action has been taken. If the floods hit again this year, our houses could be at high risk once again,” said one of the Harijan brothers.
“That horrible memory of our house getting destroyed by the flood still haunts us. If there is a similar flood this year, our houses could be destroyed yet again and who will be held responsible?”
