CALANGUTE, AUG 12
Residents of Baga are living with fear of being washed away due to cyclonic weather conditions.
The four families at Baga beach are living in fear of being washed away, especially during late night or early hours.
In the early hours of Thursday, Baga resident Oswald Noronha (Ozy), his two children and spouse, lived in fear of being washed away by heavy under water currents hitting the shores.
The Noronha family however survived the tragedy on Thursday, but with much damage to the property surrounding their dwelling. Their house is now on the verge of the collapse.
To save their house from being washed away, family head Noronha undertook preventive measures like stacking the boulders and bags filled with sand to arrest the soil erosion, which may lead to the collapse of the house. A large number of labourers were employed by the Noronha family to carry out preventive measures.
When the matter was brought to the notice of local ward member Albert Fernandes, he alerted Acting Sarpanch Sneha Salgaonkar, who rushed to the site along with Panchayat Secretary Subodh Prabhudessai, Panchas Alex Fernandes and Subhash Salgaonkar.
Later, former sarpanchas Joseph Sequeira and Laxman Porob Palyekar also visited the site and took stock of the situation.
Speaking to Herald, Acting Sarpanch Salgaonkar said: “The panchayat has taken a decision to grant an immediate relief of Rs 25,000 to the Noronha family under natural calamity to undo the damage and losses suffered by them.”
Panch Subhash Salgaonkar said: “This is the effect of the stranded River Princess.”
He appealed to the government to immediately arrange for removal of the vessel from the shores of Candolim.
Joseph Sequeira said: “The Collectorate of North has been undertaking Disaster Management awareness programme in private halls, where people or villagers are reluctant to attend.”
He called upon North Collector Redkar to undertake such programmes in the panchayat halls.
Speaking to Herald, a number of Baga residents pointed out to the septic tanks that were visible due to soil erosion, which emanated foul stink.
In all, five septic tanks which were constructed by the shack owners were seen in and around of the house of the Noronha family.
