PWD Minister Sudin Dhavlikar brought relief to the restive people of Navelim and Benaulim who have been demanding western bypass on stilts on the 3.5 km stretch passing through the low lying areas of the Salcete taluka. Dhavlikar said that the government has acceded to the demands of the people and in principle agreed to construct a bypass on stilts along the flood-prone area.rSoon after the government begun work on the bypass, affected residents of Navelim and Benaulim swung into action and pressed for a bypass on stilts fearing loss of land and property besides flooding of areas. The then fisheries minister and ex-Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado had assured locals of an early resolution of the issue, while post election, Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao also stood behind people’s demand.rSudin’s announcement to soon float a tender of Rs 160 crore for bypass on stilts and also an assurance to rehabilitate those displayed by the bypass roads with appropriate housing elsewhere will re-establish a connect with the locals down Salcete, at a time when the ruling coalition was at the wrong end ever since they have come to power.
