Process to plug breaches in main bundh at Azossim starts

Panaji: The agriculture department’s soil conservation division has initiated the process to repair the two-kilometre-long Valado Divisorio bundh at Azossim. Breaches in the bundh have resulted in massive saline water influxes from the Cumbharjua canal into fields and near low-lying houses, raising concerns among the villagers.
In a tender issued at the Tiswadi mamlatdar’s instance, the work to close the breaches and increase the height of the bundh is estimated to cost approximately Rs 93 lakh.
The last date for subm-ission of bids is June 19, and the technical bids will be open-ed on June 22.
“The contractor will be given 180 days, excluding the monsoon, to complete the work,” an official said.
Vast areas of khazan land in Neura, Azossim-Mandur, and Carambolim have been submerged for two decades following the collapse of the main bundh that protected fields from the canal’s tidal flow.
Flowing in a north-south direction, the canal connects the Zuari and Mandovi. The surging tidal flow due to huge unrepaired breaches in the Ofla, Domzo and Caujem bundhs along this canal, has in recent years affected the internal bundhs, like the Azossim bundh, about two kilometres away from the canal.
“The rising water level has damaged existing houses and destroyed coconut plantations and other trees. The rest of the bundh, which is the second line of defence, may collapse if neglected,” said Ramrao Wagh, convener of the Khazan Action Committee.
Local residents are apprehensive about flooding. Drinking water wells have also been contaminated.
The weak Azossim bundh had been repaired by the St Mateus Tenants Association during the past few months. After some smaller breaches were closed, one of the three bigger ones was filled up at a cost of Rs 12 lakh only to be washed away within a few days.
While doubts were raised about the quality of the work, the committee stated that it could be sabotage or due to the massive pressure caused by tidal flow from the river.