Anjunem Dam officials flayed for Sanquelim market flooding
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
MAYEM, AUG 19
While shops in Sanquelim got flooded mainly due to a heavy downpour in the Virdi and Chorla Ghat region, the Water Resource Department (WRD) as well as officials at the Anjunem Dam came in for severe criticism on Thursday.
At a special meeting in the office of the North Goa Collector Mihir Vardhan, the WRD was accused of failing to start the four lift irrigation pumps in time, while officials at Anjunem Dam were criticised for releasing water without intimating the public.
"Had the WRD started all four lift irrigation pumps as soon as water began to enter into the market, the water would not have flooded the shops," claimed Sanquelim Municipal Council Chairman Anand Naik.
He also accused authorities at Anjunem dam for releasing the water without prior intimation, claiming that it was necessary to do so in public interest.
Besides Collector Vardhan, others attending the meeting included Deputy Collector Narayan Gaad, Sanquelim Chief Officer Bhanudas Naik, WRD engineers Kulachari, Badami and Assagaonkar and other officials.
Meanwhile, the flood-affected traders from Sanquelim were busy salvaging items and cleaning their shops on Thursday.
Said a businessmen, Anand Kanekar: "The people from Sanquelim, especially the traders, have lost faith in the government authorities. We are afraid to even stock goods in bulk during the forthcoming Ganesh Chaturthi as they could get destroyed in similar floods."
SMC Chairman Anand Naik has informed that residents will be given a demonstration on rescue operations in the eventuality of similar floods in the future.
Health authorities have also begun a drive to protect villagers from epidemics due to floods.