SWAPNESH CHARI
PONDA: The blazing heat in Goa has led to a surge in visitors to the Dudhsagar river bandh in Nirankal-Betora for a refreshing dip, causing alarm to locals over safety concerns. With past instances of drowning deaths, the residents have called for police patrolling in the area to avoid any untoward incidents.
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The Dudhsagar river, flowing from Collem to Khandepar, has several popular spots, but some were prohibited due to safety concerns.
As a result, the crowd at Nirankal-Bethora has been steadily increasing, particularly during weekends and holidays, causing distress to locals from Dhulai village in Dharbandora, who use the area for bathing and laundry.
Moreover, visitors from other villages and anti-social elements frequently consume alcohol in the open, leaving behind a trail of broken bottles and chaos. The Codar panchayat has petitioned the police to oversee the unsafe areas on the river’s banks, and Nirankal panchayat will follow suit shortly, said Sarpanch Umesh Gaude.
Social worker Hemant Samant stressed the importance of awareness regarding the dangerous zones at such locations. He appealed to visitors to pick up after themselves, as the polluted water flows downstream to Opa, which supplies drinking water to Ponda and Tiswadi talukas.
He suggests that PWD and WRD officials should also maintain a close watch.
