Sardinha assures to take up the demand for stilts with Union minister
MARGAO
Sharing the concerns raised by the Benaulim villagers that construction of the western bypass sans stilts will devastate low-lying agricultural fields, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha on Sunday assured the residents that he would again take up the matter on priority with Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari to build the bypass on stilts.
As the residents of Benaulim upped the ante against the western bypass sans stilts, the South Goa MP on Sunday has expressed his solidarity with the agitating villagers, cautioning the government that he would hit the roads for any agitation staged by the villagers.
Sardinha informed the residents that he had spoken to the Union Minister Gadkari in Delhi by drawing his attention to the heavy rainfall Goa receives during monsoons. “I told him that the bypass built on earthen embankments would devastate the agricultural fields. He has given me an assurance to look into the matter,” he said.
He added: “I told Gadkari that flooding will destroy the agricultural fields and pleaded with me not to force the people to come on the roads and block roads, pointing out that I too will come and join the people in their agitation.”
Saying that he is heading to Delhi to attend the Parliament session, Sardinha said he would again call on Gadkari with a plea to issue directions to National Highway officials to build the bypass on stilts.
Saying that he is in favour of fast mode of communications, the MP, however, made it clear that such development activity cannot come at the cost of the local villagers. He recalled that he had hit the streets with the people when they were opposing the bypass sans stilts at Mungul. “Thereafter, I had called for meetings with the district Collector and other officials, but they were insisting the State government would bear the additional cost of building the bypass on stilts,” he added.
The delegation of residents led by Royla Fernandes, Roque Fernandes and others handed over a memorandum to the MP when they called on him at his Curtorim residence.
The memorandum stated that the Western bypass (National Highway NH66)) is passing through the Benaulim village with a plan to construct the highway on earthen embankments. They, however, pointed out that the area in question is a catchment area for river Sal, demanding that the highway construction to be carried on stilts to avoid flooding.
The memorandum requested the MP to take up the villagers’ demand before Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in the best interest of the villages.
