PWD proposes to build 11-12 water passes along stretch for smooth flow of water
MARGAO
Hopes of building the western bypass on stilts on the Benaulim stretch seemed to have receded with the long-pending demand of the villagers and farmers to build the bypass on stilts, especially along the Tolleaband stretch, not finding favour with the government.
PWD Minister, Nilesh Cabral said on Monday the new plan drawn by his department, has proposed to build a total of 11-12 water passes along the 650 metre Benaulim stretch for smooth flow of water instead of building the stretch on stilts, as against the three proposed in the existing plan.
“The government has taken cognisance of the sentiments of the Benaulim villagers and farmers. We have come out with a plan within the powers of the Chief Minister. The plan is almost finalised and will be unveiled later this week,” he said.
The PWD Minister said the new plan for the balance stretch along Benaulim envisages water passes along the 650-metre stretch. “The existing plan approved and monitored by the High Court has made provision for three water passes. After taking into account the sentiments of the people of Benaulim, the government has decided to increase the water passes from three to 11-12. This should take care of the flooding aspect raised in many quarters,” he said.
Conceding that the people of Benaulim have been waging a sustained struggle in support of the construction of the bypass on stilts, Cabral, however, said the government has put in the new plan what is possible within the powers of the government.
‘We have taken cognisance of the sentiments of the people. The people of Benaulim and the Benaulim panchayat members had called on with a plea to build the bypass on stilts. After we worked out a new plan for the balance stretch, I had sent a word to the Benaulim panchayat to come for discussions, but they have not come. We should remember that work on the western bypass is being monitored by the High Court,” Cabral said, adding that the High Court has set December 2023 deadline to complete work on the bypass.
Apart from making provisions for additional water passes along the 650-metre stretch, the PWD Minister said that the plan will also take care of the water flow along the internal roads along the Benaulim-Varca road. “The new plan will take care of the entire concept of western bypass by making provision for seven culverts along the internal roads,” he said.
Benaulim villagers have been waging an agitation in support of construction of the balance 2.75 km western bypass on stilts. While the government had rejected the demand on stilts on the plea it may push up the cost of the project by manifold, the government had to finally sanction 980-metre stretch on the Seraulim-Mungul stretch as per the recommendations of the NGT-constituted panel.
P’YAT DID NOT RECEIVE PWD MINISTER’S INVITATION FOR MEETING: SARPANCH
MARGAO: Benaulim Sarpanch Xavier Pereira has said that the invitation sent by PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral for a meeting with the panchayat members to discuss the western bypass issue was not received by the panchayat body.
He, however, said that the panchayat tried to have an audience with the Minister on Monday after realising that the Minister wanted to have a meeting with the panchayat body. “Due to the preoccupation of the PWD Minister, we could not get an appointment with the Minister today and tomorrow,” Xavier said, adding that the panchayat will seek an appointment with the PWD Minister for a meeting on Wednesday.
