At first p’yat meet, members resolve to conduct hydrology study before moving the courts
MARGAO
The Benaulim Village Panchayat will take forward the movement in support of the construction of the Western bypass on stilts passing through the village.
The first meeting of the panchayat chaired by newly-elected Sarpanch Xavier Pereira has resolved to conduct a hydrology study at the earliest before knocking the doors of the judiciary to direct the Goa government and the PWD, National Highways to build the bypass on stilts.
Days after the village panchayat and the sarpanch submitted in writing the issues plaguing the village, including the controversial bypass issue, the panchayat deliberated on the Western bypass at its first meeting chaired by Pereira.
The newly-elected panchayat members all deliberated on the contentious issue at the meeting before adopting a host of resolutions in support of the demand for the bypass on stilts.
While resolving to adopt the committee constituted by the panchayat to pursue the bypass matter headed by the sarpanch, the meeting resolved to request Smitesh Talwalkar to provide the consultancy services for hydrology study. The meeting has resolved to write a letter and seek the quotations.
Given that the hydrology study will cost the panchayat body and will entail utilising panchayat funds, the meeting resolved to send the quotation of the hydrology study for financial approval as per the directives of the Directorate of Panchayats.
After the meeting, Sarpanch Xavier told The Goan that the panchayat has resolved to stand by the people, farmers and the village as a whole on the issue of the Western bypass.
One of the prominent faces of the movement launched by Benaulim villagers in support of the bypass on stilts, Xavier said the panchayat has batted for the hydrology study before moving the courts for justice. “The hydrology report will help the villagers and the panchayat body to knock on the doors of the Supreme Court to look into the flooding issues raised by the farmers and villagers if the bypass is not built on stilts,” he said.
He added: “Armed with the hydrology report, either the panchayat or villagers can move the courts, including the High Court or the Supreme Court with a plea to build the bypass passing through the Benaulim village on stilts.”
The battle in support of the Western bypass on stilts had received a big boost when the Water Resources Department (WRD) called for construction of the bypass on stilts to prevent large-scale flooding in Benaulim village.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) appointed 10-member panel of experts have recommended bypass on stilts only along the 980 metre stretch of the road between the wholesale fish market at Seraulim and the Mungul railway overbridge.
Benaulim villagers, however, have insisted that the government build the balance portion of the bypass from Mungul railway overbridge to the Benaulim-Varca road on stilts, on the plea that landfilling of the low-lying areas will devastate the village with flooding in the future.
PWD, National Highways yet to take cognisance of WRD findings
MARGAO: There’s no news yet from the PWD, National Highways on the recommendation made by the Water Resources Department (WRD) to conduct a model hydrology study at the Benaulim stretch of the Western bypass.
In fact, WRD Executive Engineer Ankush Gaunkar has batted for the model study with an expert hydrologist to avoid the worst circumstances in the future that may occur on account of development along the bank of the river Sal.
In its report on unprecedented flooding in Benaulim during the current monsoons, the WRD has warned that the flood situation that prevailed in Benaulim took place when the bypass was not yet built and the situation may become more complex and may result in worse conditions after the completion of the Western bypass.
Sadly, the PWD, National Highways, which is executing the bypass project, has not yet taken cognisance of the WRD findings and seems bracing up to resume land filling of the Benaulim stretch, including the stretch passing through the rain water catchment area of Tolleaband in the village.
