MARGAO
Agitated Benaulim locals on Tuesday stopped the work of land-filling for the western bypass project near the Afonso Corriea Hospital as they demanded that the government build the stretch on stilts.
A joint meeting of the villagers and the PWD officials have been convened at the site by newly-elected Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas to resolve the issue.
A day after residents of Mungul questioned land-filling works by the PWD, National Highways when the expert panel has recommended construction of the bypass on stilts along the 980-metre stretch from Seraulim and Mungul, Benaulim villagers hit the roads near the hospital and stopped the land-filling activity.
Benaulim Aam Aadmi Party ZP member Hanzel Fernandes told the media that the people have stopped the land-filling works as the government appeared adamant about constructing the bypass sans stilts.
He pointed out that people were agitated since the PWD, NH has been bulldozing with the bypass work when the matter is pending before the High Court. “The villagers have been demanding construction of the bypass on stilts. The bypass on stilts will not affect anyone and will protect the ecology and prevent floods along the flood plains of River Sal”, he said.
Hanzel said MLA Venzy Viegas has called for a meeting with the PWD, NH officials at the site to take stock of the situation and to work out a solution.
Locals pointed out that the area where the PWD has begun to fill up with mud are sensitive zones, which may cause flooding during the monsoons. “We have to stop the destruction of the environment and the ecology”, a resident said.
The residents suspected that the government is out to hoodwink the villagers by recommending the construction of the bypass on stilts along the 980-metre stretch from Seraulim to Mungul.
The locals feared that given the amount of traffic that would be plying on the bypass in the future, it would be advisable to build the road on stilts to avoid accidents.
