SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Team Herald
QUEPEM: Pre-monsoon works in Xeldem and Assolda panchayats have been “affected” due to the COVID pandemic.
The annual exercise is usually carried out in April or May. However, with the Met Department forecast that monsoon will arrive in Goa in the first week of June still there are no signs of pre-monsoon works in Xeldem and Assolda panchayats of Curchorem constituency.
Xeldem resident Leslie Fernandes said, “Today we see bushes grown by the roadsides, gutters choked and damaged on account of lack of maintenance. The drainages are full of garbage and mud which will cause flooding when monsoon arrives.”
Xeldem sarpanch Caetano de Lima said, “Due to the pandemic we failed to convene the meeting. However, this week we have started the works such as cleaning of gutters and clearing bushes from roadsides in some areas.”
Assolda sarpanch Lata Raut Desai said, “Pre-monsoon works will start after meeting with panchas. The meeting on pre-monsoon works was planned however due to the pandemic it got delayed”.
Desai said, “Now, the panchas said they will take up pre-monsoon works in their respective wards.”
Xeldem panchayat secretary Ravindra Wadikar said, “The meeting has not taken place due to pandemic, but I given verbal directions to commence pre-monsoon works, and some panchas have already started the works in their wards.”
He said, “It is important to start pre-monsoon works on time, because if the monsoons arrive early, it will create havoc.”
“The pre-monsoon works of clearing the bushes, pruning dangerous trees and clearing garbage from gutters will completed in Xeldem panchayat area,” Wadikar assured.
