MARGAO
The South West Monsoon may finally retreat in the next few days, paving the way for the PWD, National Highway to resume work on the construction of the balance portion of the western bypass along the controversial low-lying Benaulim stretch passing through the flood plains of river Sal.
The government, however, may have to answer a simple question “ has the administration set in motion the process to put in place a comprehensive drainage plan to mitigate floods along the flood plains of river Sal due to the construction of the bypass on earthen embankments instead of stilts?
Well, Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari’s envoy deputed to Goa R K Pandey to study the flooding pattern at Benaulim might not have recommended construction of the bypass on stilts along the 650-metre stretch passing through the Tolleaband water body.
The Centre’s envoy, however, has come categorically clear and stressed on the need for a comprehensive drainage plan to address the outfall issue. In fact, Pandey was clear in saying the Benaulim area is low-lying and flood prone, further observing that flooding is a routine phenomenon during monsoons and cannot be prevented entirely, till a comprehensive drainage plan addressing the outfall issue is sorted out.
“Discharge capacity of river Sal needs to be taken into consideration, which appear too low. Measures for increasing the discharge capacity of river Sal may be taken including desilting/ dredging,” Pandey had observed in his report.
A senior PWD, NH official informed that the recommendation made by R K Pandey in respect of the measures to increase the drainage capacity of the river Sal has been forwarded to the Water Resources Department (WRD) since works relating to desilting and dredging of rivers and waters falls in the domain of the WRD.
Questions, however, have been raised whether the PWD and the WRD along with other concerned departments will join hands to come out with the comprehensive drainage plan to ensure the plan is implemented and executed simultaneously with the bypass work.
Not only local residents of Benaulim, but the Centre’s envoy R K Pandey has been clear in pointing fingers at the river Sal stretch between Mungul and the Khareband bridge, which flows in full spate during rains because of poor drainage capacity.
While Pandey had called for preservation of the River Sal, calling the picturesque river a nature’s gift to the State, local residents have been demanding a proper river desilting plan along with construction of the river embankment for smooth and quick drainage of the flood waters.
That’s not all. R K Pandey had further called for making provision for additional culverts on the Khareband-Varca road, saying there is need to provide additional discharge area from Varca road to river Sal by way of increasing the culvert size or its numbers. To substantiate his point, Pandey had referred to the provision made in the bypass to build 10 culverts along the 650-metre stretch passing through Tolleaband, with total area admeasuring 157 square metres. Comparatively, the 750-metre Varca road passing in front of the Mercado Mall is having only two culverts (total area 36 square metres) for discharging water into the river Sal, which Pandey has insisted is insufficient for quick drainage.
Incidentally, pose a question to the PWD-NH officials on the status of Pandey’s recommendation to increase the size or number of culverts on the Varca road, and apt comes a reply, saying Pandey’s recommendation has been forwarded to the PWD, Roads for execution. “Let the WRD and the PWD, roads come out with a plan what they intend to do about increasing the drainage capacity of river Sal and increase the culverts on the Varca road. These authorities should unveil the plan of action before resuming work on the bypass,” remarked another local resident.
