If there is continuous rain for more than 12 hours, people from neighbouring villages immediately ask: “Padd’dde buddlem tor?” (Is Paroda flooded?).
The famous bridge connecting Paroda and Avedem-Cotombi gets flooded almost every year. Further if it rains for more than 12 hours, including the main Quepem-to-Margao road between Paroda and Gudi and then all the vehicles including public transport are diverted via Chandor.
Paroda is situated at less than 2 kms away from the Quepem market and is surrounded by Salcete and Quepem talukas. As per the records available with the panchayats, Paroda has a total population of 5,500 with the number of houses are 1,264; and in Avedem-Cotombi, 3,385 is the total population and the numbers of houses are 959. Agriculture is their main occupation and a small section of the population; particularly the youth are either working on the ships or abroad.
Another issue that is faced by locals of both the villages is the lack of a proper permanent bus stop or bus shed to stand. As a result of which, they have to wait on the main road at Paroda to board the public transport buses to proceed to Margao or Quepem-Curchorem and that causes problems not only for the public but for the motorist too.
Paroda and Avedem-Cotombi villages are separated by River Kushawati.
“If the authorities construct a bypass road parallel to the new existing irrigation canal, it would solve the problems that occur due when water overflows and normal life is paralyzed due to the flooding,” said Paroda Sarpanch, Inas Tereza.
From the other side, Alleluia Afonso, the Avedem-Cotombi Sarpanch, said that people from these twin villages are facing major difficulties due to the bridge, which was built soon after liberation.
“It is narrow and gets flooded almost every year if it rains for more than 8 to 12 hours. This causes inconvenience to the people, particularly the students who have to cross the bridge to go to local school” Afonso added.
The Sarpanch further recalled the time when former Chief Minister (late) Manohar Parrikar, had the visited the site in 2013. At that point of time, Parrikar had promised to build a new one-way bridge within seven months. However, as of today, the old bride remains as it is with no progress being made on the new proposed bridge nor has there been any progress on working on an alternative, which can help the locals when the bridge gets flooded. As of now, locals are resigned to the fact that the area will get flooded next year as well given that it is unlikely that any work in that regard, will be completed before the next monsoon.
Speaking about the issues faced in the area due to the flooding, the Manager of Immaculate Conception High School, Avedem Fr Agnelo Rodrigues informed that the school management declares a holiday for the students due to the circumstances. “During flooding, water reaches up to the compound of our school and this year it happened thrice, due to which, a portion of our compound wall collapsed. This was later cleared by locals,” added Fr. Rodrigues.
On a different note, locals have also raised demands for an improved sub-health centre in the area with 24×7 medical facilities. They point out that the existing sub-health centre is in Cotombi is located at a great distance from the main area and that the doctor from the Quepem primary health centre visits only on Tuesday of every month. Thus, on many occasions and especially during emergencies, they are left with no option but to travel to Margao or Quepem, particularly during the night. “There is no pharmacy in the entire Avedem-Cotombi area either and we have to travel to Quepem to buy medicines. Therefore, a pharmacy is needed and the government must provide doctors, who are available 24×7,” said senior citizen Sashikant Lotlikar, who added that the newly constructed community complex of the panchayat can be used for the same.
Lotlikar also demanded that the internal roads are widened at the earliest as they are too narrow. On a similar note, locals called for better public transport facilities.
“Only one bus plies daily at 6.45 am via Amona, Avedem and Paroda to go to Margao and after that the people have to go to Paroda to board the public bus or use their own private vehicles. Rich people can do it but what about the poor?” asked Lotlikar. Locals demanded that the government should ensure more KTC buses are plying on their village routes, which would help the residents of the area, particularly, senior citizens and students.
Lotlikar also informed that people do not get 24/7-water -supply and that all the wells and springs in the village are drying up. “There is a lake at Cotombi but it requires maintenance. Earlier, the farmers were using that water for cultivation purpose but they have now given up on such farming activities due to erratic supply of water,” he added.
Regarding garbage collection, both the sarpanchas have claimed that their panchayats are carrying out door-to-door collection and are keeping it in their respective properties and that after segregation; the trucks from Saligao Treatment Plant are collecting it free of cost.
