Residents voice suspicions
TEAM HERALD
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
CALANGUTE: A controversy has erupted in Candolim with the Water Resources Department (WRD) being accused of constructing a road along a river at Candolim.
Speaking to Herald, residents of Candolim have criticised the WRD’s decision to make a 10-metre wide bundh in the river, as part of the project to reconstruct a bundh near the Nerul Bridge and a jogger’s stretch for Candolim villagers at an estimated cost of Rs 4.61 crore.
“The WRD has dumped mud along a distance of at least 150 metres in length, with a width of 8 to 10 metres, giving the impression that a road is being constructed through the river to suit builders who could be planning to convert the paddy fields in the area,” remarked a resident.
“The dumped mud could come in the way of mangroves and one fine day, the mangroves could be cut for filling the land. Besides, a 10-metre wide road is being shown on the latest Regional Plan for the village of Candolim,” the resident added.
When informed of the activity, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo rushed to the site and was surprised to find mud dumped all along the stretch in the river. Lobo then summoned Bardez Mamlatdar Mr Khorjuemkar to the site and asked him to take stock of the situation.
“I was taken aback to find mud being filled into the riverlet. I will write to authorities to curtail the width of the bundh to 2.7 mtrs maximum, as there is a possibility that the path could be misused by builders from outside the State, who have bought properties in the area,” said Lobo.
“The narrow width and a wall or benches on either sides of the path can safeguard the water body / khazan land. But if the road width is kept at 3 mtrs, it would mean that there is a provision for a motorable access to the properties in the khazan land and it can be misused to suit the builders lobby. The panchayat can then pass a resolution in future to make provision for a road in the water body / khazan land,” he added.
A team of WRD officials led by Assistant Engineer Ravle Shetye went to the office of the Calangute MLA and explained that the mud had been dumped to restore the bundh, which had been washed away.
Responding to fears that the road is being constructed to suit the real estate lobby, Shetye assured the MLA that the project has been approved with a 4-metre road access but added that the road width would be narrowed to 2.7 mtrs. He also informed that benches will be placed and jogging facilities will also be provided at the site to prevent the path from being used as a motorable access to properties along the river.
