MARGAO
As dark clouds hover over the sky ahead of the monsoons and the PWD, National Highway racing against time to expedite work on the western bypass in Benaulim, anxiety and concern rent the air not just in Benaulim, but along the flood plains of river Sal in adjoining Seraulim and Mungul area of neighbouring Fatorda over the spectre of flooding this year.
Take note, the Seraulim-Mungul stretch is being built on stilts, but people strongly believe that failure to build the bypass on stilts in Benaulim would leave the two villages inundated during monsoon.
A visit to the Tolleaband water body in Benaulim, the focal point of the long-pending demand of villagers and farmers in support of stilts, has revealed that work is underway to complete the cross drainages.
Senior PWD, NH officials said they have accorded priority to complete the cross drainages at the Tolleaband water body, even setting June 15 as the deadline before the monsoon sets in with all its fury.
Work on the cross drainages at Tolleaband-Benaulim has raised concern in neighbouring Seraulim and Mungul-Fatorda. Reason: Locals say that waterlogging in Benaulim due to the landfilling of low-lying fields and water bodies will hamper the smooth flow of rainwater resulting in the inundation of fields in Seraulim.
That the issue of inundation took centre stage at the Seraulim gram sabha indicated the anxiety among villagers and farmers who said the bypass sans stilts in Benaulim will have a disastrous impact on Seraulim.
Says former Seraulim panch Kevin D’Souza: “No doubt, the Seraulim-Mungul stretch is being built on stilts, but our villages will still be inundated if the rainwater does not drain out immediately in Benaulim since the bypass there is being built on earthen embankments. Hence, we have demanded stilts in Benaulim as well.”
While the contractor has started landfilling in Benaulim, sources in the PWD, NH informed that the over-kilometre-long stretch will be taken up for landfilling to raise an earthen embankment after the monsoon.
“Right now our priority is to complete cross drainages to ensure quick drainage of rainwater this monsoon. Work on raising the earthen embankment will be taken up in a big way post-monsoon,” sources said.
Meanwhile, the application filed by the Benaulim panchayat in the Suo Moto PIL is pending before the High Court, will come up for hearing around mid-June.
Vijai says will take up issue with Goa govt, Centre to mitigate flood threat
MARGAO:
Expressing grave concerns over the potential flooding of low-lying areas in Fatorda due to the ongoing construction of the western bypass in Benaulim, Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai on Monday said he will take up the issue with both the State and Central governments to arrive at a comprehensive plan to mitigate the threat.
He said the decision to build the Benaulim stretch on earth embankments poses a significant risk to the surrounding areas.
Calling for the immediate reevaluation of the plan, Sardesai has urged the government to undertake the project on stilts. “This alternative approach would not only benefit Benaulim but also prevent the backflow of floodwater, and avert the inundation in Mungul,” Sardesai said.
"A bypass on stilts will be immensely beneficial to Benaulim and prevent potential flooding in Fatorda," he added.
With monsoons around the corner, he stated that his primary focus will be to safeguard those areas in Fatorda that could be severely impacted if the Benaulim section continues to be built on earth embankments.
Union Minister keeps Digambar's plea for bypass on stilts pending
MARGAO:
Attempts made by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat to use his good offices with Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to build the Benaulim stretch of the western bypass on stilts seemed to have not brought the desired result to date.
If Kamat is to be believed, the Union Minister has neither rejected his plea nor approved the proposal to date.
While Kamat has managed to obtain an in-principle nod from the Union Minister for a T-shape flyover in his constituency at the Comba railway crossing, the western bypass proposal has been hanging fire.
“Nitin Gadkari has neither said yes nor no to my request for stilts. Maybe my proposal came a bit late since work is now at the last leg,” he said.
Kamat added: “With monsoon round the corner, we will have to wait to see the situation during the rains. I will take up the matter with the Union Minister if rains cause flooding of the low-lying areas in Benaulim and adjoining places.”
