WRD asked for hydrography study; Agriculture, TCP, land survey dept to submit status reports by Dec 20
the goan I network
MARGAO
Beleaguered residents of Benaulim once again made an impassioned plea to the government to build the western bypass on stilts even as officials of the Goa State Bio-diversity Board and other agencies descended in the village on Wednesday to take stock of the ground reality following apprehensions of flooding raised by the villagers.
Led by the Member Secretary of the Goa State Biodiversity Board, Dr Pradip V Sarmokadam, the officials along with the villagers led by former Sarpanch Royla Fernandes walked through the bypass alignment, right from the Varca road to the Tolleaband stretch of the road.
In fact, the officials were taken by surprise over the devastation caused to the low lying fields along the river Sal banks with the diversion of the river to facilitate building of the bridge on the river.
After the inspection, the GSBB Member Secretary has instructed the Water Resources Department official to prepare and submit a hydrography study of the entire area. Instructions were also issued to the officials of the Agriculture, TCP, land survey to prepare separate reports on the status along the alignment.
The agencies have been told to prepare the report by December 20 so that the same can be submitted to the department of Environment and Climate Change at the earliest.
Royla later told the media that officials of the various agencies have seen for themselves the danger that has been posed to the environment and ecology in the event the bypass is not built on stilts along the Benaulim-Seraulim stretch.
She pointed out that the inspection by the Biodiversity Board had been arranged following a representation made by the villagers to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
“This issue is not about the highway. There are sensitive areas along the alignment passing through Benaulim and the wet lands. As the officials have seen for themselves, the low lying fields on the banks of the river Sal have been devastated with sewage water due to the ongoing bridge works,” she said.
The former Sarpanch pointed out that the bypass, if not built on stilts, will also throw up a host of traffic issues on the two important roads, connecting the coastal belt, known for tourism.
“In addition to being densely populated, this is a coastal belt, which plays host to hotels, resorts and restaurants. Just imagine a situation on the traffic front if there are no adequate underpasses and flyovers along the alignment,” she said, adding “along with the flooding aspect, the state government should also take into account the traffic congestion that will stare at the people if there’s no flyover at the site.”
“Do you expect the villagers to wake up early so that the children are not stranded on the roads just to allow the highway traffic to pass at the junctions,” Royla questioned, adding that the projected traffic movement along the alignment has not been given a thought by the planners while planning the project through a densely populated zone known for tourism activities.
Gadkari not in favour of bypass on stilts: Churchill
the goan I network
MARGAO
Asserting that he has been favouring the construction of the western bypass on stilts, Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao said that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has on more than one occasion turned down the request of the villagers of Benaulim and Seraulim to build the bypass on stilts along the 2.75 km stretch passing through the flood plains of river Sal for want of funds.
Churchill, however, pointed out that he has got the Goa government to desilt the river Sal for the smooth flow of the monsoon water to negate flooding of the low lying areas.
Addressing the media, the Benaulim MLA said he had never stated that he is not in favour of building the bypass on stilts, but wanted the government to first desilt the river Sal to take care of the flooding.
“Though I am in favour of the bypass on stilts, I did not give any false promises to the people of Benaulim and Seraulim. When I met Union Minster Nitin Gadkari, he turned down the plea as the bypass on stilts would entail huge expenditure which the government was not in a position to fund. Hence, I insisted on desilting of the river to resolve the issues of flooding,” he added.
The Benaulim MLA said the Water Resources department has already floated a tender to desilt the river Sal between Nuvem and Khareband at a cost of Rs 9.5 crore. He said the stretch of the river from Verna to Nuvem will be taken up in phase II”, he said, adding that the balance portion of the river Sal between Khareband and further downstream will be desilted by the Captain of Ports.
Churchill, however, said he would support the panchayats of Benaulim and Seraulim to approach the High Court on the issue since the Court is monitoring the matter.
“I have already told the two panchayats that I will support them if they prefer to file a petition in the High Court,” Churchill said.
