Team Herald
VASCO: Fear of flood-like situation has gripped Cortalim villagers as a result of the ongoing work of new eight-lane Zuari Bridge.
Villagers from villages on either bank of River Zuari are alarmed about the problems that they may face during the monsoon as a consequence of the ongoing Bridge work and have requested MLA Alina Saldanha to intervene.
Following the request, a site inspection was conducted on Monday at the instance of Saldanha on a stretch of road from Kesarval to 1stAravlle, in Cortalim, where the construction work of the new Zuari Bridge is going on. Officials from PWD NH, DBL (bridge contractor), Cortalim Sarpanch Senia Pereira, panch members and the locals were present for the inspection
During the inspection Saldanha showed photographs of the flooding that occurred behind the Vailankanni Chapel and said with just one day rainfall flooding has occurred. “I foresee a lot of trouble with the onset of the monsoons such as water entering the houses, roads getting flooded, debris getting washed into the fields etc. Hence, at this inspection, certain decisions have to be taken to put in place the necessary infrastructure,” she emphasised.
Accordingly, the engineers suggested drainage along the road from the slope up to the field on Nauta side, construction of catchment area/pit on the slope at the cross drain point so that the flow of water is controlled and lessened, which in turn will prevent flooding at Nauta road. It was also suggested to construct a laterite stone wall all along the road from Vollant side in order to stop the water entering the houses lying below the slope as well as along the field.
Besides, it was also suggested that side drainage along the stretch of road from the present market place up to the fields at Pazentar to be provided and all drains and cross drains along 1stArvalle road to be desilted.
Similarly, Saldanha directed the PWD to construct drainage along the road at 1stArvalle to prevent water entering the houses and all debris along this stretch of the road to be cleared.
“With the monsoons fast approaching, engineers and bridge contractors should to do the needful at the earliest. The engineers of Dilip Buildcon Ltd have agreed to put in place the above infrastructure in a week’s time, after which, the same delegation that was present for inspection has agreed to meet next Monday to revise the measures taken,” Saldanha said.
Later, the delegation visited the area near Bony Bar & Restaurant where the piling work of the pillars s going on because the committee of Irlem Bhailem Khazan of Sancoale had created hurdles in the free flow of water from the Khazan lands due to land filling at the mouth of the river near Bony Bar.
“Due to land filling at the mouth of the creek leading towards the Khazan land, it is observed that during the low tide, the total quantum of water does not flow out from the Khazan lands and therefore the farmers have expressed fear of flooding in the villages of Cortalim and Sancoale, due to the blocking of the flow of water. The engineers of DBL have agreed to study this situation and have also decided to use the expertise from NIO and GCZMA to tackle the situation. This issue will also be taken up at the next site inspection on June 4, at 10.30am,” Saldanha said.
