Team Herald
MARGAO: The villagers of Guirdolim and Chandor met the South Goa District Collector on Thursday and handed him a memorandum demanding the restoration of a rivulet adjoining to Folli Lake into its original form. The villagers have complained that the tonnes of mud from the ongoing Railways expansion work have been dumped into the small rivulet. They further pointed out that the rivulet supplies water to the lake and the surrounding fields.
Villagers of ward Folli of Guirdolim village were represented by Marcelino Fernandes, Agostino Antao, Sita Antao, and several others handed a memorandum to the Collector. The Collector has been informed that the rivulet at survey no. 262 of Guirdolim village has been filled with mud resulting in a danger of low-lying areas of Folli, getting flooded during the monsoons.
“Consequently, the water from the Folli lake will be blocked and the low lying areas of the Folli ward will be flooded and hence destroy the mud-walled old houses” said Marcelino Fernandes.
Traditionally, the water from the lake (survey no. 270 of Guirdolim Village) would flow in the Kushavati River throughout the year via the rivulet (a tributary of Kushavati river) but now the lake outlet is blocked. During the rainy season, the rainwater flows into the lake from Guirdolim as well as the other neighbouring villages, Chandor, Sao Jose de Areal and Curtorim.
“We also bring to your notice that in the year 1979, due to floods many houses had collapsed in Colloso ward, of Guirdolim village. We hope that the Collector will take the necessary measures and save us from this man-made disaster” said Sita Antao while requesting the office of the Collector to get the mud cleared and allow the water to flow as it used to.
The Collector Ajit Roy, IAS, has meanwhile said that the matter is new to him and will study the matter and soon speak to all the parties in the matter.
The villagers said that they are opposed to double tracking of the Railway line.
