Now, Usgao locals oppose bandhara on Khandepar river

PONDA: Two days after the gram sabha of Curti-Khandepar village panchayat unanimously resolved to oppose the proposed bandhara at Murdi, in the Khandepar river, Usgao locals on Tuesday also voiced their opposition to the structure.
Agitated after they found some WRD officials collecting land samples at the Sonarbag ward in Usgao, a group of around 20 Usgao villagers met their sarpanch Narendra Gaonkar and made their views known.
Gaonkar later told reporters that he would not allow the work to begin till the WRD chief engineer explains to the people the facts pertaining to the project and its benefits.
On Sunday, Curti-Khandepar villagers unanimously resolved to oppose the proposed bandhara.
Like Curti and Khandepar locals, Usgao villagers too fear that the construction inside the river basin will create environmental destruction, including causing the river to rise, and will add to woes during monsoons. Gaonkar said that the village already faces flooding during the monsoon and the bandhara would only increase its intensity.
During the last monsoon, the flooding caused several houses along the river bank to collapse.
Abhijit Gaonkar, a villager, sought the support of villages from across the state.
The Rs 100-crore bandhara was planned to cater to the drinking water needs of Priol constituency where water supplied from the Opa treatment plant does not reach. Ten MLD water is supposed to be drawn everyday for treatment from the bandhara.
Gaonkar said that he has contacted WRD minister Subhash Shirodkar and has arranged for a meeting on Saturday.