TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Construction work of the main nullah at Kapileshwari, Ponda, which had been going on at snail’s pace since the past three years, has now picked up momentum much to the relief of the locals.
Local MLA and PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar has assured the farmers that the construction work would be completed by May. At the same time, the farmers are concerned that untreated water from the Betora Industrial Estate and Ponda city, which flows into the nullah could pollute their paddy fields.
The Kapleshwari nullah, hich is 12 kms long, originates from the Betora panchayat and passes through Curti village, Ponda city, Kavlem village and finally merges with the Zuari River in the jurisdiction of Bandora panchayat.
According to sources, some farmers had allegedly reduced the width of the nullah with the intention to grow trees. As a result, garbage from Ponda city which was passing through the nullah began to flow into the fields.
Rebuilding the nullah and removing the garbage from the fields became an additional burden to the farmers and appeals were made to the government to construct protection walls along the nullah.
Following efforts of Dhavalikar, the Irrigation Department began the construction of a protection wall for the nullah at a cost of about Rs 9 crore three years ago.
During his visit to Kavlem, Dhavalikar told the farmers that the government has already spent Rs 9 crore on the project so far, while in the second phase an additional Rs 9 crore will be spent to construct side walls for the nullah at Bandora.
According to Sarpanch Rajesh Kavlekar, about 180 workers are engaged at the construction site and about 300 coconut and other fruit bearing trees were cut from the encroached portion of the nullah.
