Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: More than a month after floods devastated Goa and Sattari and Valpoi in specific, residents are still being made to jump through hoops for compensation. Sadly, these families have been unable to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi while still dealing with this tragedy. The floods hit rural Sattari and also parts of the Valpoi Municipal area. The Sawant Sarkar, which promised that they would provide compensation before Ganesh Chaturthi first took a U-turn promising full compensation only to those with completely demolished houses, but they have not received it. Once again, the Sawant Sarkar shows its true colours.
The floods hit Goa bad; in Sattari & Valpoi, many villages like Usgaon, Ganjem, Guleli and even urban parts of Valpoi saw massive damage. Many were left homeless, many more were impacted in other ways, their houses damaged, their lives ruined. Many have had their appliances ruined, and electrical connections are made useless. This has caused continuous stress for families who, due to the pandemic, have also lost their jobs.
The Govt had assured 4 lakh of compensation via the state coffers and a private organisation, but the flood affected are now being expected to jump through hoops for the compensation. They have been asked for many documents that are impossible to provide as most of those impacted are in rural areas where those documents don’t apply. Many documents have been lost to the floods as well, adding to their stress. Moreover, most of those impacted are not being given the full amount. This seems to be done purposely to deny needy Goenkars their due.
Due to this, a black pall has descended on the flood-affected in Valpoi and Sattari. Many cannot celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi as they are either busy trying to make ends meet or running behind their compensation bureaucracy. This is really sad that Goenkars cannot celebrate what is arguably the largest festival in Goa!
“The Govt had earlier assured that compensation will be disbursed before Chaturthi, but they have backtracked and said only those with completely demolished houses will be given full compensation. However, even that has not been provided,” said AAP leader Shubham Shivolkar from Valpoi. “All residents want is for their compensation so they can rebuild their houses. They are unable to do this themselves as the pandemic has also led to a loss of livelihood. What are the residents to do? If the Govt can’t provide compensation, than surely they should provide housing under disaster management protocols,” added Shivolkar
“Once more Pramod Sawant has been caught lying to Goenkars. It is unbelievable that this Govt can be so heartless as to create so many hurdles for Goenkars who are now without homes and also suffering due to damaged houses,” said AAP Goa Convenor Rahul Mhambre. “It is shameless of Sawant that he made a false promise of resolving this before Ganesh Chaturthi,” added Mhambre
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