Is Quepem Bridge safe for heavy transportation?

The 45 years old bridge on Kushawati River at Quepem which is the only way to link Quepem town to Curchorem, Sanguem and other places is it safe for heavy transportation?

The 100 mts length and 20 mts height bridge on Kushawati river and known as Kushawati Bridge was constructed soon after liberation of Goa at an estimated cost of Rs.10 lakhs by Gammon India Pvt. Ltd. Company Bombay.

The work of the bridge was commence in January 1961 and the same was inaugurated on 18/11/1962. It was constructed in place of the then exiting bridge which was demolished by the then Portuguese regime on 18th December 1961.

In early 2010 the villagers of Quepem raised concern over the safety of the bridge as heavy mining transport was plying over it.

Due to the outcry made by the public the PWD Works Division XXV( R ) in April 2010 through a team of experts from Goa College of Engineering Formagudi headed by professor V. Chodankar , assisted by Dr.G. Hegde, Dr. C.S. Gokhale and S. Kakodkar conducted loading test of the Kushawati bridge.

In May 2010 the Goa Engineering Formagudi team of experts submitted their report in which they have mentioned that the bridge is safe for a maximum loading capacity of 15.4 tons.

In its report for the safety of the bridge the team of experts also suggested 7 measures which includes

1. The shot-creting/guniting may be undertaken for concrete spans to strength it and to cover the sxposed reinforcement particularly for Datta mandir side span.

2. To increase thelofe and to strengthen it, FRP wrapping may be undertaken for all three spans.

3. All the abutment may be cleared of all plants growth including penetration of roots.

4. Suitable jacketing measures may be taken for protecting pier pedestals from scouring and the water way below the may be cleaned and cleared.

5. The side rails/hand rails may be painted and strengthened wherever required.

6. The utility lines running on the bridge may be systematically supported and protected

7. Asphalting may be done for carriageway over the bridge.

That though more than 6 months have been passed apart from not taking any steps over the measures suggested by the experts for the safety of the bridge the PWD Quepem is yet to install a signboard mentioning safe loading limit of the bridge.

Assistant Engineer Rosario Pereira when question about the measures taken to prevent overloading over the bridge informed herald that his department is yet to take steps to prevent overloading over the bridge

Adv. Fredrik Pereira, convener of Quepem taluka mining affected peoples forum and instrumental in carrying out the loading test of the bridge informed that the department is not concerned about the safety of the bridge. He further informed that presently the mining trucks carry more than 20 tons over the bridge, if that continued further then one day the bridge may collapse. He further informed that the PWD is hesitating even to put sign board mentioning the loading capacity of the bridge only to protect the interest of the mining trucks and mining companies.

Kushawati in mining silt

Kushawati river is flowing with Muddy water which is a sign of large scale catchment area of this river is disturb on account of ongoing mining activities.

Village sources of Cavrem, Maina and Colomba informed that around 10 to 15 mines are in operation in catchment area of Kushawati river which is responsible for increasing the torpidity of the water. Village sources further informed that previously muddy water flows into the Kushawati river only when it rains heavily and it used to get diluted within a day but now even without there being heavy rains the Kushawati river flows with muddy water which continues for days together.

Villagers from Cavrem and Colomba informed that the mining companies pumps large scale muddy water from the mining pits and releases it into the rivulet of Kushawati which results in increasing the torpidity of the water in Kushawati river.

John Fernandes

The River Mandovi Cries for Help

Sanghmitra Mainkar, who's from the heavily mined area of Bicholim in Goa, reports how miners dump waste into the beautiful river Mandovi. Although this is illegal, it's being carried on in broad daylight, polluting main water supply channels to critical levels! click here for video.

Mining inside Selaulim Dam catchment area map

Mining in and around Colamb, Sanguem is all pervasive scandal that is far away in the forest. Rulers in Panjim and Delhi are happy that they are far away from it. Now here is a map that pinpoints the detail vicissitudes of happenings in the catchment area of Goa's major water source that provides water to over 50% of its citizens. Tiger pug marks are cited too along with the mining leases here in western ghats. Have a detailed look at what is happening in Goa's hinterland:


View Colamb mining in a larger map

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

Chapora river whose banks Vedanta wants to mine at Pirna, Goa

Sesa Goa mining company owned by British corporate has developed insatiable desires to mine the Chapora river banks at Pirna, Bardez. for more information on this click here.

This picture from the top of Chopem-Siolim bridge in Bardez.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Vedanta (Dempos) threatens Assanora river

Mining on the banks of Assanora River has posed serious threat to Assanora river and all its life support systems. Assanora is under tidal influence and the operation is right on the banks of river. Rejection is dumped less than 5 meters on Assanora river banks. Pictures clicked on 8th September 2009.

Pictures are self explanatory.



Mining pit below ground water table on the banks of Assanora river.