Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA – Delayed works on Dhawalkhazan bridge (Agonda’s Borim-bridge) have posed the dangers of causing floods in the village, even as the monsoon rains have opened up the non-perennial streams triggering river flow.
It’s been over a fortnight since the culvert box bridge slabs were done, and the contractor was busy removing the plates on Monday. Incidentally, the heavy rains lashing the taluka have triggered the river flow and blocked the bridge to enable bridge construction and a pathway to maintain movement across the river. Luckily, a small passage for the water to pass out/flow is maintained on one side with arrangements of large pipes has so far been helpful, but the flow of the river from upper catchments has got water stocked, increasing the level to the brinks of the river.
‘The works have already begun to provide pedestrian access across the bridge, and we are first filling up both sides of bridge approaches. Then the temporary water blocks (artificial Bhandaras) will be cleared to enable free flow of the river’, informed a Supervisor looking after the bridge construction works.
Incidentally, the Agonda river (rivulet), which witnesses tides (low and high tides), up to a certain extent, was saturated with contaminated water since the bridge construction was taken up.
‘Good that rains have subsided by Monday late morning and there are no rains on Tuesday as well, but if rains began to hit again, the river flow, if kept blocked at Dhawalkhazan, will be flooding the village, and water will begin to enter houses, especially residences located in both river banks. They should waste no time but immediately remove the river blockages artificially made at bridge construction site ‘, informed a villager.
Villagers are also apprehensive that the construction works will be delayed beyond the targeted date, and the contractor should have to hasten up the works to avoid rain-related problems.