ERWIN FONSECA
ASSAGAO: Springs and water bodies are vital for maintaining a village’s ecological balance, supporting both flora and fauna. However, poor maintenance—especially of canals—can make them hazardous during the monsoons.
Despite frequent government discussions on disaster management, progress remains slow, often derailing just before the rainy season. This is evident in Assagao, where a local resident is striving to protect an age-old
spring-cum-nullah.
Patrick Rodrigues, a resident of Assagao, first approached the village panchayat in January 2024, regarding the deteriorating condition of an irrigation canal located behind his house.
Originating from a spring, the canal flows from Assagao to Anjuna and Arpora before culminating at Baga in Calangute.
Initially developed systematically by then-MLA and Minister Chandrakant Chodankar in 1996, years of neglect have left it in disrepair. In some areas, the situation has deteriorated to the extent that a builder attempted to construct a culvert over it in Ward 2.
According to Rodrigues, who has been actively pushing for government intervention, garbage continues to be dumped into the water, leading to contamination. He fears that the mixing of garbage slurry with water could pose a serious threat to the fields downstream.
“I initiated this process in January last year after obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the St Anne Chapel property, to which this land belongs. I wrote to the panchayat, which promptly forwarded the matter to the Water Resources Department (WRD). However, despite over a year having passed, the file remains stuck with the government. This just shows how serious the authorities are about such critical issues,” Rodrigues stated.
Inquiries with the WRD revealed that the necessary paperwork has been completed, and plans are in place to repair a 60-metre section of the canal at an estimated cost of Rs 15 lakh. However, the file has been pending government approval since October 2024.
“From our side, all formalities have been completed. Once we receive administrative approval, the project will be tendered and work will commence,” informed Assistant Engineer (WRD) Vinoo Nayak.
Reliable sources suggest that the delay is due to a shortage of government funds, leading to the project being on hold for the past six months. Nayak expressed hope that, following the upcoming budget presentation, funds would be allocated, allowing work to proceed.
Meanwhile, Assagao Sarpanch Hanumant Naik has also voiced his frustration over the delay in vital flood control projects worth Rs 45 lakh. “The government talks about flood control and disaster management, yet they have no funds to prevent disasters and floods. What kind of disaster management is this?” he questioned. Naik acknowledged that while some officials were proactive, administrative bottlenecks had resulted in numerous projects either being delayed or indefinitely shelved.