MARGAO: Locals from Seraulim have demanded that the government should address their concerns over repeated instances of water-logging occurring in the village during the rains, which is affecting the fields, low-lying areas and also flooding the Seraulim underpass.
The work of the PWD in constructing the western bypass and a water aeration project of the Water Resources Department (WRD) were flagged as problems that could compound the water logging issues.
It may be recalled that the farmers had blamed the western bypass work for changing the natural flow of water from Nuvem to the sea given that water was seen stagnating in various parts of the village.
These issues were discussed at the Seraulim gram sabha meeting. Regarding the flooding of the Seraulim underpass, which had posed difficulties to commuters, the villagers 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.
A local resident emphasized 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. Regarding the water aeration project that is coming up on the border of the village near the wholesale fish market, concerns were raised by farmers that this too will lead to water logging in the neighbouring fields.
Local resident Kevin D’Souza lamented that not much information is available about this project and that the panchayat should monitor the same. He also feared that due to the project, the fields that have been cultivated and the crops and vegetables that have been grown there would be destroyed once water logging takes place due to the project. He lamented that it is the farmers who would have to suffer.
The Deputy Sarpanch Leslie Dourado was then asked to convene a joint meeting with the WRD, village’s Biodiversity Management Committee (WRD) and the farmers while also keeping the Benaulim MLA apprised of this issue.
The serious problems that the farmers faced due to the waterlogging caused by the western project in the village were pointed out. Besides the flooding of the fields, it was recalled that an old mud house had collapsed too.
Locals added that poor drainage of rainwater and water stagnation at the site was the cause. It may be recalled that the Sarpanch had written to the District Collector about this issue in July.
