Team Herald

CUNCOLIM: Illegal land filling by a PWD contractor, to build an approach road to the bridge across the Mashem River, has raised fears among villagers that it would lead to flooding in the village.

Mashem village sits about a couple of meters above the high tide line, as such, even without the land filling, the village faces threat of flooding during heavy rains. Now since the contractor has carried out land filling on a vast area, people fear that it would severely obstruct seaward flow of water leading to severe flooding in the village.

The issue of land filling was raised by the villagers with Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes during a meeting, a few days ago. 

People say that a massive land filling for a causeway, fifteen years ago, changed the coastline and the new land filling has speeded up the process. The PWD had begun land filling for a causeway along the Galgibhag River estuary and Maxem River, but it had to abandon the same under strong protest from locals. 

The Executive Engineer then had assured the locals that no further land filling would be done. 

But now all of a sudden the NH contractor has dumped huge amount of soil. The villagers once again protested and the work was stopped. 

Meanwhile, paying heed to the fears of villagers, MLA Fernandes conducted an inspection of the land fill site, recently. He was accompanied by Captain of Ports Capt James Braganza, PWD officials and Canacona Joint Mamlatdar Ramesh Gaonkar.

After the inspection, Capt Braganza told the villagers that the formalities for dredging and de-silting of the sand would take two years and instructed to the PWD to make a letter to COP in this regard. 

He also advised the contractors to keep machinery ready in case there is flooding during the monsoon. He has also ordered the PWD to stop further work forthwith. 

However, the villagers claim that dredging and de-silting would not prevent flooding. “Instead of dredging and de-silting, the authorities should restore the place to its original position,” said an elderly villager.

The villagers have further demanded the removal of land filling along Galgibhag river estuary and Maxem River and restoration of the same to their original position. The villagers have threatened legal action against PWD and Captain of Ports, if their demands are not met.

Manoj Prabhugaonkar, who was a member of the inspection team, said that land filling in the river has to be cleared before the monsoon. Failure to do so, he warned, the houses on the bank of the river face the threat of wash out.

Social activist Nishant Prabhudesai said, “We are not against the bypass, but it has to be done by following the laid down procedures.” 

Suggesting that the approach road be built on stilts, Prabhudesai said, “To save money, PWD and the contractors are putting the lives of the villagers in jeopardy by filling the land for the approach road.”