The Sada hill, which faces the Vasco harbour, is under serious threat of a landslide due to construction of illegal buildings. While some residents have even illegally constructed two-storied buildings, local authorities have turned a blind eye to these constructions. Residents who realise the dangers, say they have no option since they used to stay too far from their jobs in the port town
It is a man-made disaster waiting to take place in the port town and yet the people facing the biggest threat in landslide prone areas of Bogda, Jetty and Sada in Vasco city appear least concerned about the imminent danger to their lives.
The Sada hill, which faces the harbour, is under serious threat of a landslide due to construction of illegal houses. While some residents have even illegally constructed two-storied buildings, local authorities have turned a blind eye to these constructions.
According to M Pednekar, one of the early settlers of Sada, the situation was quite different when he first arrived to work at the port. “In 1970, when I first came from Pernem to Vasco to work at the port, there were around 1,000 small houses scattered all over the hillock. From our house, we could get a panoramic view of the port and the Arabian Sea. But over a period of time and with the help of politicians, the entire hill became covered with houses,” recalled Pednekar.
“By constructing one and two storied buildings, the hill as has become weak and during incessant rains there is every possibility of a major landslide. The houses are constructed in such a way that during any disaster, it will be difficult for the emergency services to reach the affected houses or the persons.”
Pednakar attributed the situation to ‘vote-bank politics’ of politicians, who have encouraged illegalities for their personal gain. “Politicians are least concerned about the safety and security of the people. All they are interested is in promoting illegalities for their personal benefit. If there is a landslide, it will be a major disaster as hundreds of lives will be lost and since there is no alternate road to reach Sada area, it would be very difficult for the emergency services to shift people to a safer place,” said Pednekar.
Commenting on the dangers of a landslide at Jetty and Bogda, a resident, Y D Naik, recalled the landslide at Tariwada-Desterro in 1999, where around 75 houses constructed on the hillock collapsed during the monsoon.
“Luckily, there were no casualties during that incident. But if there is a landslide at Sada, Bogda and Jetty, hundreds of lives could be lost,” feared Naik.
A resident, Anil Naik, whose house is located on a landslide-prone area, claimed that most residents like him are from Pernem and are staying there as they are working at the port.
When the possibility of a landslide during monsoon was brought to his notice, which would endanger the lives of his family members and others in the area, Naik replied: “I am aware of the danger but since my children are studying in Vasco and since I am working at the port, it is difficult for us to travel from Pernem to Vasco.”
When contacted, Mormugao Municipal Chief Officer Y B Tavde said he had sent notices to all the illegal houses.
“Despite knowing about the dangers of landslides, people keep on constructing illegal houses. Residents of the area should realise about the potential danger of a landslide and should stop further construction of illegal houses,” said Tavde.
“Even if we serve them with eviction notices, residents of Bogda, Jetty and Sada do not leave the place and we cannot do anything as we do not have a place to rehabilitate them,” Tavde added.
