MARGAO
With the contractor appointed by the PWD, National Highway to execute work on the balance 2.75 kms stretch of the Western bypass taking up land filling activity, the Seraulim panchayat has dashed off a letter to the PWD officials seeking to know whether the works that are carried out are on new work order or any other directives.
Petitioner in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Royla Fernandes has said she is consulting her lawyer on the commencement of work on the bypass when the NGT is yet to give its verdict on her plea to direct the National Highway to construct the bypass on stilts on the 2.75 km stretch.
Seraulim Sarpanch Leslie Dourado has sent a letter to the Executive Engineer, XIV (NH) pointing out that the villagers need to know the works that are carried out are on new work order or any other directives.
In fact, the sarpanch has asked the PWD to update the panchayat body on the bypass since the matter is in the NGT and the High Court, which had ordered a committee to study the matter.
“We have validated on site that the works of Western bypass has restarted. However, we are unable to validate the scope of works that are carried out. We understand that the scope of works of the remaining 11.9 kms is de-scoped from the initial work order/tender,” the sarpanch said.
Seraulim panch member Kevin D’Souza demanded to know how the National Highway and the contractor can restart work on the bypass from the Seraulim side when the matter is pending before the NGT. “It is strange that the National Highways and the contractor have dumped mud for land filling on the Seraulim side when the NGT appointed 10-member panel is yet to submit the report to the Tribunal,” he added.
Incidentally, PWD, NH Executive Engineer, Dattaprasad Kamat had on Monday tried to cap the row over the land filling activity on the bypass alignment at Seraulim, saying the land filling is being done by the contractor to erect sheds for the labourers.
