Goemkarponn desk
VASCO: The villagers of Velsao, along with the Farmers association, have got the contractor to get the JCB again to desilt the Velsao Lake that was being desilted after a long gap of 22 years.
The Pale Tolem Xetkaranche Association ( PTXA ) had met the Cortalim MLA Anton Vas and insisted that the desilting works may not have been completed and the contractor had left the site with his JCB without finishing the work.
PTXA President and social worker Roquezinho D’Souza said that the association met the MLA Anton Vas, who personally arrived for an inspection and directed the contractor to get the JCB Back to the lake
“This is a beautiful lake, and we have a lot of fish in the area as well. The lake had not been desilted for 22 years, and the muck had come to the ground level making it difficult for the farmers and even for the Hindu community who immersed Ganesh Idols here. Our MLA Anton Vas got the lake desilted after 22 years, but the contractor did some work and went back,” he said.
“We then met the MLA Anton Vas, and he directed the contractor to complete the work and desilt the lake further, and we will personally inspect the works. The people must have patience because this will take time, especially since no one has done much work in this lake for so long. Criticism of a person doing some work will only demotivate the person,” said D’Souza.
PTXA treasurer Joaquim D’Souza said that the farmers should have realised when the contractor left with the JCB.
“The MLA Anton Vas had got the WRD contractor to desilt the lake, but the contractor did some work and left, and we did not even realise when he left. People later said the work was not properly done, but our MLA Anton Vas immediately got the contractor and directed him to finish the incomplete work. The works are now going on at full pace, and this will help the farmers and the local residents of the village,” said D’Souza.
