PANJIM: The Water Resources Department (WRD), which took up the desilting of rivulets/ponds, agriculture fields and reconstruction of existing sluice in Savat Khazan and Kharat Khazan fields in Shirgao, had informed the High Court of Bombay at Goa that Pune-based agency has failed to meet the deadline despite instructions to engage the extra workforce to complete the work at the earliest.
During the hearing of a petition filed by Shirgao villagers, the Water Resources Department executive engineer (works division VI) submitted that M/s Abhinandan Buildcon has completed 82.22 per cent of work so far.
“The agency has completed the works in approximately 37 hectares of land out of 45 ha in Savet Khazan, which works out to around 82.22 per cent. The agency was directed by this office to expedite the work by engaging additional men and machinery and complete the work at the earliest, however, the agency has not completed the work in all respects,” the status reports of the High Court states. The agency was appointed based on high court directions in February 2020 to start the desilting works.
The agency is yet to complete works on the balance of eight ha in Savet Khazan fields, and also in three ha out of 45 ha in Kharat Khazan fields besides desilting of rivulets for a length of 1.213 km.
The High court, in its last order on April 25, 2022, directed the Pune-based agency to complete the work before the onset of monsoon and WRD to monitor the progress of works and submit a status report before the Bench.
Meanwhile, the directorate of settlement and land records has started the demarcation of cleared areas in consultation with the representatives of the tenants association of Savat Kharat Khazan. The court has now adjourned the matter to June 29.
