MONDAY, MAY 06, 2024
Team Herald
PONDA: Kerya-Khandepar farmers have heaved a sigh of relief after the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) finally restored the springs which were buried under mud and waste during the first phase of National Highway (NH) widening.
It may be recalled that during the first phase of NH widening work there was massive land filling at Kerya. At the same time some unknown persons had dumped medical waste at road widening sites, which further got buried under the mud dumped for road widening. This further buried the traditional springs that provided water for agriculture downstream. The agricultural activities and vegetable cultivation were hit for a few years due to destruction of the springs.
Following this, last year, the farmers during the second phase of widening work had met NHAI authorities at PWD office, Ponda, and complained about springs buried under debris and had demanded their revival.
The NHAI authorities conducted site inspections as the farmers had demanded the restoration of the traditional springs. The officials had promised to restore these springs by using pipes below NH road, so that springs could be revived and farmers could get water for cultivation.
Accordingly, the NHAI authorities while conducting road widening work recently laid underground pipes by clearing the mud and restored the springs at Kerya.
Locals Sandeep Parkar and Ragunath Gaude expressed satisfaction over restoration of springs. Rocky Dias and Sherly Dias also helped locals in raising the issue with authorities, farmers stated.
