PONDA: Locals from Khandepar raised concerns after trees located on the river bank collapsed into the river on Thursday.

Blaming the Water Resources Department (WRD) for the massive soil erosion, locals pointed out to the alleged haphazard work carried out recently by the WRD on one side of the river bank. 

According to Sandeep Parkar and other locals, WRD launched a bandara construction work in Khandepar River. The department reportedly did not take the necessary permission from the concerned authorities despite the river being declared a eco-sensitive zone. The work on the bandara was later abandoned by the contractor stating that ‘it is not feasible at the spot citing technical reasons.’ However, the portion of river bank which was cut for making way for the bandara construction has now collapsed after the river is now flooded with the rain water.

Locals said two coconut trees and many other trees have fallen into the river due to the soil erosion. 

“These trees were close to the old Khandepar Bridge. More trees are on the verge of collapsing,” the locals said. They also feared that if the soil erosion continues then the river water flow may be diverted causing major destruction in the village.

Parkar said despite instructions from the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) the mud, dumped while constructing the four-lane road, was not cleared properly but levelled into the river basin. 

This, Parkar said, might also be another reason for the soil erosion.

The Khandepar locals say that “WRD did not restore the side wall of river bank cut for bandara work, despite the work being abandoned.”

Parkar suggested that the government take urgent measures to restore the soil erosion on the river bank and save the Khandepar River.