Goemkarponn Desk
PONDA: Usgao ,Khandepar locals Unanimously oppose Construction of Bandhara on Khandepar river. The public hearing was held today at Usgao as well as Khandepar village following tension prevailed on 2 June on both sides of proposed bandhara when WRD officials had started land survey work for construction of Bandhara.
The WRD Chief Engineer Pramod Badhani and AE Shailesh Naik were present at Usgao Ganjem Panchayat hall for public hearing in the morning. The officials told the villagers that government had planned Rs 80 Crore drinking water Bandhara on Khandepar river to meet the growing requirement of drinking water in Priol and Ponda.
However the locals pointed out that their area is flood prone and In such situation incase bandhara is constructed the area would be more vulnerable to flood. With no satisfactory reply and solution incase of flood due to Bandhara in future the locals by raising show of hands Unanimously opposed the Project. The locals said the the project is also illegal as the land owner also objected the project on 2 May stating that his NOC was not taken.
At Baga in the evening at Maruti Temple hall the public hearing was attended by around more than 200 people from Murdi , Baga of Curti Khandepar village were present and same officials present at Usgao attended the meeting.
The local Panchmember Abijeet Gaude of Curti Khandepar said the locals posed the similar question to officials that were posed by locals at Usgao Ganjem Panchayat. He said the Officials showed us presentation on Bandhara and it’s need. However questioned officials whether they conducted the study of flood prone area before construction of project.
Today there is no barrage or Bandhara at site but locals witnesses major flood every monsoon and after barrage there is more chances of flood. How they would handle flood situation. The Officials however could not satisfy the locals through their answer said Abijeet Gaude.
The WRD Rs 80 Crore proposed Bandhara at downstream of OPA-Khandepar found in rough weather as people residing on both sides of river banks at Sonarbaag in Usgao Ganjem and Murdi , Bagaa at Khandepar had unanimously opposed the Project during public hearing held today morning at Usgao and evening at Murdi-Bagaa at Khandepar claiming that if Bandara is constructed their flood prone area would cause severe and major disaster in monsoon when the Dudhsagar river overflows at upstream flowing from Karnataka and it could invite devastating flood in monsoon.
Already they had witnessed it in 2021 when several houses were collapsed after river was flooded.
