MARGAO
Will the South Goa district Disaster Management Authority rope in an expert agency to conduct a study on the stability of the Dicarpale hillock in Salcete after a landslide was reported at the spot where a major landslide buried alive 11 labourers around a decade and a half ago?
Salcete Joint Mamlatdar Rosario Carvalho was quick to descend at the hillock after locals complained of soft soil from the hillock sliding down on the main Margao-Quepem road, posing danger to motorists, more so two-wheeler riders. While the initiative of the Jt Mamlatdar helped to clear the debris from the main road, the question that has remained unanswered is whether the district disaster management agency has taken steps to draft an expert agency to conduct a study on the recurring landslides at the Dicarpale hillock.
Residents expressed their shock and surprise over the last week’s landslide at Dicarpale, as the incident brought the bitter memories of the last incident that had claimed the lives of 11 labourers from Uttar Pradesh around a decade and a half ago. The 11 labourers, who were working at a carpentry workshop, were buried alive at their place of stay in a rented room on the base of the hillock, burying the structure along with the labourers.
Former sarpanch Niasso told the media that the authorities should order a probe into last week’s landslide at the Dicarpale hillock.
“The villagers appreciate the quick action by the Salcete Joint Mamlatdar Rosario Carvalho and his team in clearing the debris that had come down on the main road, posing danger to motorists,” Niasso said while demanding that the authorities conduct a study over the exact cause behind the latest landslide.
Niasso also cautioned those staying at the base of the hillock to avoid any untoward incident, since the latest landslide has dished out warning signals that all is not well at the hillock.
Joint Mamlatdar Rosario pointed out that the PWD and its labourers have cleared the road of the debris, posing danger to the motorists.
Sources, however, pointed out that the district disaster management agency should immediately intervene and rope in an expert agency to find out the exact cause behind the latest landslide and to check the stability of the hillock.
