MARGAO: Residents of Seraulim and the surrounding areas have called on the authorities to resolve issues connected to the problematic underpass in the village.
Given that the underpass located near the railway crossing in Seraulim gets waterlogged as soon as it starts raining, as was witnessed throughout the monsoon and even during the brief spell of showers earlier this month, there are demands for a permanent solution to be found now that the monsoon is over.
Complaints have mounted as the subway remains inundated for days, posing health concerns for residents. There is a consensus among locals that the water enters the underpass from a nearby stormwater nullah.
Seraulim Sarpanch Seema Shanke and Deputy Leslie Dourado told the media that the panchayat has written letters to the Railways and the PWD, urging them to take action to prevent water from flowing into the underpass. According to Sarpanch Shanke, the PWD officials have responded, assuring that they will address the matter post-monsoon.
Deputy Sarpanch Dourado highlighted another concern regarding the damaged height barrier at the subway, for which the panchayat has also contacted the railway authorities for repairs. He emphasised the need for installing a pump in the subway if the source of water ingress cannot be determined.
It may be recalled that these issues were also discussed at the recent Seraulim gram sabha meeting where the villagers had demanded that the panchayat officially ask the railway authority to find a solution and ensure that rainwater is properly drained from the site to a nearby pond.
Locals had pointed out that a drain at the site was a must, given that even in cases of moderate rainfall, the underpass would get flooded. The failure of the concerned engineers was also highlighted by the villagers.
