PONDA: After a heart-wrenching drowning incident of two siblings on March 31 that shocked Karmale-Querim, Priol village, there is a growing demand with the State government to construct protection walls around the water tanks at kulagars (bagayats) and residential areas to prevent drowning deaths.
In this regard, local MLA and Minister Govind Gaude wrote to Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant about the heart-wrenching incident at Karmale suggesting him to take appropriate steps to prevent drowning deaths of innocent children at open water bodies created for irrigation/horticulture purpose.
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“This incident makes us to look at the safety of children. The government while granting permission to construct water bodies must see that they are properly fenced,” Gaude said.
Speaking to media while stating that the Thursday’s heart-wrenching incident of two siblings is an eye opener, Gaude urged the landlords of bagayats to cooperate with their tenants in construction of protection walls around the water tanks, wells in kulagars and residential areas.
He said, “The parents will never forget the incident in their entire life wherein they lost their two innocent children. As nobody can guard their children for 24/7 and hence there is a need for safety measures.”
Similarly, GOACAN Coordinator Roland Martins urged the Deputy Collector Ponda, to take necessary drowning prevention measures at the water tanks.
In its letter to the Deputy Collector, Martins expressed concern about the tragic death of two minor siblings due to drowning in a water tank at Querim and called for downing prevention measures at the water tanks in Ponda Taluka. “It’s a wakeup call for urgent steps,” he stated.
“The media reports have highlighted that the water tank where the tragic incident occurred was filled with water to irrigate the arecanut plantation,” he mentioned.
“In fact there will be many water tanks all over Ponda Taluka which will be actively used during the current heat wave conditions and also in the summer months to tackle the heat. Most water tanks of this nature have been built not necessarily keeping in mind the need to prevent drowning. The present tragic incident is definitely a wakeup call and all efforts must be made to see what best can be done in the short time available to prevent drowning in such water tanks in Ponda Taluka,” Martins stated.
It may be recalled after the GOACAN highlighted the rise in drowning cases in Kodar River, the government started to construct protection walls around the river at the picnic spots.
