Team Herald
PONDA: The Dhatwada-Usgao locals on Saturday protested against Water Resource Department for laying a water pipeline through a nullah despite their opposition.
However, noticing the protesting locals the contractor and workers involved in pipeline work fled from the scene.
The locals alleged that WRD which had almost stopped the work of laying pipeline a month ago, now two days back has started again which can lead to destruction of nullah bed and its clean water springs. Cutting of trees is also carried out.
“The work is illegal and there will be no springs to nullah once its bed is covered with mud after laying of pipeline. The nullah basin had almost converted into a mud road due to digging and movement of heavy machinery for laying pipelines,” they alleged.
A month ago, the locals had stopped the pipeline work through nullah to supply water from Ganjem River to OPA Treatment Plant. However, two days ago the local noticed that WRD has begun the work keeping them in dark.
The locals said they won’t allow nullah’s destruction and want the traditional nullah water flow in naturally.
A local Sandeep Parkar said, “They are not against water pipeline but it should not go through the nullah as they are dependent on it for source of bagayat irrigation, domestic use and religious rituals including Ganesh idol immersion.”
He said, “The 1000 mm water pipeline should be laid by the side of bank of nullah. However, the contractor has destroyed entire nullah by laying pipeline thereby destroying its natural water flow and medicinal and other trees grown along the side of nullah.”
