Mining, heavy rains floods Kushavati: Paroda submerged, highway blocked

By John Fernandes

The Quepem Margao Highway at paroda submerged under water since early Saturday morning as the Kushawati flooded thereby disturbing the normal life on this route. The traffic going to Margoa was diverted via Amona - Chandor side. The submergence of the Quepem Margao high way continues at the filing of this report in the late evening of June 26, 2010.

The heavy rain caused damaged to properties at Cacora, Shelvona and Amona. At Shelvona the house of one Subhash Chadra Dessai flooded with water thereby causing damage to the extent of Rs.2000/- while at Cocora the house of one Rosita Dias collapse thereby causing loss to the extent of Rs.35,000/- and at Amona the house of one Julio Dias damaged thereby causing loss to the extend of Rs.8000/-. No damage to life was reported.

It is a regular feature that every year Kushawati River get flooded at Paroda in the month July or in August when the down pour of rain is heavy. This year it flooded in the month of June itself. The Quepem Margao high way submerged at three places at Karale, near Paroda temple and near the Paroda Church. The main sufferer are the school children from Mule , Karale and other places who goes to Immaculate Conception High School which located across Kushawati river.

One Joazinho D’Cunha who is over 60 years of age and ,resides on the bank of Kushawati river informed that in his entire life has not witness Kushawati river flood in the month of June. The Kushawati River used to get flooded either in the month of july or August that to if it rains heavily for consecutive two to three. The present situation shows that some thing wrong has been done to the Kushawati River. Informed said Juazinho futher.

Rama Velip of Colomba informed that the flooding of Kusahwati river is solely not because of heavy rain, but it is mainly due to the siltation of the low lying area of the river and due to release of water from the mining pond of the mines operating in Rivona, colomba, Cavrem, Maina which are the catchment areas/feeding ground of Kushawati river. Rama Velip further informed that when it rains heavily lot of rain water get accumulated into the mining ponds and in order to avoid unwarranted damage to the mining pond/pit the mining companies lets out the water saturated into the mining pit/pond into the Kushawati river or into its tributaries which results in flooding of river even if it rains heavily for one day. The villagers of Colomba has even filed a writ petition in the High Court highlighting these issues informed said Rama further.

Canacona flood - few glimpses, few insights

Devidas Gaonkar captured some key moments of the Canacona floods in early October 2009.

This picture is mouth of Talpona river in Talpona. The mouth of river twenty five years ago was 300 meters wide. Curretly due to siltation the mouth of river just 28 meters. The island seen in the picture is actually a silt accumulated over the past two decades...


Goods vehicle on road at Bhatpal - Highway NH 17 - caught in floods...

Houses under floods in Bhatpal. ground floor was affected by flood waters...

Houses destroyed due to floods in Poinguinim. 93 houses collapsed in Canacona taluka due to floods and 2 People died.

This house crushed due to floods at Poinguinim.

Another site of house collapse in Poiguinim. Most of the house collapsed are in Panchayat Jurisdictions of Poinguinim and Loliem.

Bridge washed away in Ponsulemol, Khotigao. Now wooden make shift bridge installed by villagers.

Due to bridges washing away in flood waters villagers have made Bandharas as wooden bridges. This picture is from Ponsulemol, Khotigao.

Talpona River changed its course. Once it was a paddy field in Ponsulemol. Due to this phenomenon people not only lost paddy but also their land - now occupied by river course. Where will the people cultivate paddy in next season. Seeds of crisis are sown here - question of food security for families, for communities.

Some people are yet to gather courage to look at the future. They are still looking at past, what floods brought them...

For the present they are forced to live in huts like this one at Mahalwada, Poinguinim. Reality is real as reflected through the cupboard mirror.




Cleaning up the debris of house collapse in Mahalwada, Poinguinim...

This lady - Baby from Ardhofond - had a brush with death. She and her family - husband and daughter had narrow escape. Just as water entered her house she broke open window and pushed out her bedridden husband along with the daughter out. Then she got out. Few seconds later house collapsed.

One scene of flood water in Babrem, Loliem adjacent to a house.

Temporary human residence in cowshed at Welwada, Poinguinim. Cattle are tied in open.

Reconstruction of houses has began. This particular picture is from Welwada, Poiguinim.

Government official in chair but with a difference: Canacona Mamlatdar Vinayak Volvoikar moved around with people in the middle of floods sometimes risking his life. He rendered all the help possible...

Sebastian Rodrigues

More Pictures from Canacona floods...

This man from Dhangar community Thoko Dhaku from Dabel, Canacona regrets that he was not able to save the calf lying dead besides him. He saved number of cattle from getting washed away in flood waters. Another series of Canacona flood pictures from Devidas Gaonkar...

This man Bhiva Gaonkar Kuske, Khotigao is trying to put together shelter for cattle. It was razed down during floods.

Silt deposited inside the space used for sheltering cattle

Cleaning the silt: work in progress in Kuske...

Remains of Banana plantations after the floods...

Villagers from Yedda, Khotigao assessing the damage caused by floods...

Flood water ran over these banana plantations when Talpan river overflew a one month ago.

"Gobar Gas" in waters!

There plants barely survived...

Talpan river has changed the course of its flow via paddy fields. This is one example in Avem, Khotigao. Only month ago it was a green paddy fields..

The spirit of Canacona people: they afford a smile despite the flood tragedy... salute to them.

Food, clothing, shelter washed away of this family in Monem, Khotigao. Lunch in make shift arrangements...

Household utensils shifted out of house as the house found flood water entered inside.

Flood did not care for two wheelers either. Here is a scooter that got split in two parts....

House damaged due to floods in Dabel, Poinguinim...









Sebastian Rodrigues

One month after Canacona floods...

From 2nd to 3rd October 2009 Canacona got submerged into terrific floods. Here are some pictures by Devidas Gaonkar who moved across the Canacona to capture some valuable images on his camera.

Margao-Karwar highway NH 17 was taken over by water...


Coconut trees was washed away, this particular one withstood the floods though it exposed its roots before the ferocious water.

Agriculture was severely affected as the water made its way from the middle of paddy fields.

The solo survivor in the middle of flood washed coconut groves...

Talpan river changed its course via paddy fields in Baddem, Khotigao...

Tamonemol locality in Khotigao was transformed into island by flood waters. Picture shows rescue operations in progress...

This banana plantation washed out in Baddem, Khotigao. One solitary banana tree remains as a memory of what the land was like before the floods...

Plastic barrels and gallons used to as temporary ferry to fetch people from Tamonemol, Khotigao trapped on land surrounded by flood water. Canacona Mamlatdar Vinayak Volvoikar is seen supervising the operations...

Floods did not tolerate concrete roads too. It washed them away. This picture is from Baddem, Khotigao.

Talpapona river overflowing in Baddem. The water level increased by one meter above the river capacity as result it flowed into the agricultural fields on both sides of the river in the villages Kuskem, Yedda, Auli, Baddem, Avem, Monem, Dabel, Amonem, Sishevol, Partagal, Ardhafond, Bhatpal, Sadolxem, Mangan, Talpan and Mutal.


Sebastian Rodrigues

Pictures of June 6, 2009 floods from mining sites in Goa

Sateri Temple in Valshi, Bicholim: water from nearby Vedanta (Dempo) mines at Bordem, Bicholim overflowing up to the temple plinth.

Below picture shows mining silt enters into compound wall of People residing near Vedanta (Dempos) mines in Mulgao, Bicholim.

Picture below shows mining rejection from Vedanta (Sesa Goa) mine lays scattered around in Advalpal village in Bicholim Taluka.

Picture below shows mining silt on the floor inside the village temple in Valshi, Bicholim. This silt is from Vedanta (Dempo mine at Bordem, Bicholim)

Mining silt entered entered inside the People's houses in Poira, Bicholim. This Silt is from Chowgule mining company.

Compound walls, drainage disrupted during last floods in mining belt of Goa. This picture is from Advalpal where in Sesa Goa, Salgaoncars, Fomentos, Lithoferro mining companies are in operation.

(Pictures by Vishant Vaze)