CCF objects to bundh being built by WRD

Team Herald

Calangute: The Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF) on Monday objected to a 3-mtr wide ‘bundh’ being built by the Water Resources Department (WRD) alongside a traditional water body at Calangute, claiming that it is meant to provide an access to a building project which has no road connectivity. 

Talking to media on Monday at the site of the project at Fondvem, Khobrawaddo, Calangute, CCF president Premanand Divkar said, “There is a building project on the side and a 3-mtr wide ‘bundh’ is being built to provide access for it with public funds.”

The CCF demanded that the WRD should change the plans of the nullah beautification project work.

“The project started in December 2021, was stopped following intervention by the CCF and locals. The project has now been restarted with a 3-mtr wide ‘bundh’ planned surrounding the Fondvem water body, which is not in the interests of the village. We propose that a retaining wall be built instead of the ‘bundh’ to protect the area, which will soak rain water and recharge the ground water table,” the CCF said. 

“There is a building project coming up. But its construction has been stopped because there’s no access road. The ‘bundh’ will connect to this building. We feel there are some irregularities going on,” Divkar said.

He said the CCF is not opposed to the project if it is in public interest. “This has to be stopped and redesigned. If this project is not carried out properly, it may also lead to flooding,” he said. 

The WRD project costing Rs 2.7 crore had been launched just before Christmas in 2021 on the eve of the last Assembly elections, but the work is on a standstill since then. 

The project was recently revived following a demand from the Calangute comunidade, MLA Michael Lobo had said in January. 

“We want to make it clear to whoever has apprehensions that no road is coming up there. We’re building a channel for the water flow,” Lobo said.