In response to repeated representations from villagers, local MLA and Minister Vishwajit Rane secured government approval for a flood-mitigation project through the Public Works Department (PWD). The project, estimated at approximately Rs 7.5 crore, includes raising the road level and constructing protective retaining walls along the banks of the Mhadei River. Work is expected to commence immediately after the monsoon season.
Officials, however, have cautioned that the road may continue to experience flooding during the current monsoon until the proposed works are completed.
Every year, overflowing waters from the Mhadei River inundate the Tar“Sonal road, often submerging stretches by nearly one metre and bringing traffic to a standstill. The flooding severely affects daily life, disrupting transportation and isolating residents.
Last year alone, the road was submerged on two occasions. Students faced interruptions in their education, milk supply services were affected, government employees encountered difficulties reaching their workplaces, and Sonal village remained cut off from Valpoi for three consecutive days.
The repeated hardships intensified villagers' demand for a permanent solution, a demand they have consistently raised over the past five years.
According to PWD sources, approximately ₹7.5 crore has been sanctioned for comprehensive flood-prevention measures in the affected area. The project includes strengthening and elevating around 1.5 kilometres of roadway, along with riverbank protection works designed to prevent floodwaters from encroaching onto the road.
PWD Assistant Engineer Zilbarao Desai said the road section vulnerable to flooding will be raised by nearly two metres, ensuring that it remains above flood levels in future monsoon seasons.
Protective retaining walls will also be constructed along the riverbank to safeguard the roadway and facilitate uninterrupted traffic movement throughout the year.
Sonal village, located about two kilometres from Tar, depends heavily on Valpoi for markets, healthcare services, government offices, educational institutions, and other essential facilities. During periods of flooding, residents often face considerable difficulties accessing these services.
The approval of the project has therefore been widely welcomed by the local community, which views it as a long-awaited solution to a recurring problem.
PWD officials stated that the project cannot be executed during the ongoing monsoon due to the extensive earth-filling and road-elevation work involved. Although the tender process was completed about a month ago, construction activities are not feasible during heavy rainfall.
Officials plan to begin work immediately after the monsoon and aim to complete the project before the onset of the next rainy season.
Speaking about the project, Minister Vishwajit Rane said that strengthening transportation and communication infrastructure in rural areas remains a key priority. He emphasized that rural communities deserve the same quality of infrastructure and connectivity enjoyed in urban centres.
Rane said a proposal had been submitted to the government to permanently resolve the recurring difficulties faced by Sonal residents during every monsoon. With the project now approved, he expressed confidence that the long-standing issue would soon be addressed, ensuring safe and uninterrupted connectivity for villagers in the years ahead.
