MARGAO
Asserting that he has been trying to find a solution to the western bypass issue both politically and legislatively since his election as MLA of Benaulim constituency, Venzy Viegas on Saturday said there’s a failure by the Benaulim panchayat for not going to the Court for reasons best known to them.
He, however, asserted that he is not shifting his responsibility as the MLA representing Benaulim constituency, pointing out that the panchayat should have by now filed the petition with the documentation available from departments such as the Water Resources Department and deliberations on the issue in the Assembly.
Saying that several mistakes have been done by several bodies on the issue, Venzy pointed out that it was decided at one of the meeting that he as an MLA would pursue the matter at the political and legislative front for a solution. “As part of my responsibility, I had raised the matter in the Assembly and also led a delegation to the Governor as well as the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. I also followed up the matter with Margao MLA Digambar Kamat since he was very close to Gadkari. Kamat is also trying from his side to get the bypass on stilts. All these measures were initiated by me as part of the efforts to get the bypass on stilts,” he said.
He added: “As far as the decision to go to the court is concerned, it was decided the Benaulim panchayat would take the matter to the court. But, they seemed to have not done the job of going to the court. There was no need for them to enter my shoes instead of going to the court.”
To a question, Venzy said, “The panchayat should ensure they go to the court immediately without wasting any time. There is no time left since there is already a delay,” he said.
The Benaulim MLA has warned that not only Benaulim but even the Comba area of neighbouring Margao would be inundated during the monsoon season. “Since the PWD has expedited work on the bypass at Tolleaband, I have been monitoring the situation since they are required to build 11-12 culverts for the water to pass. If this work is not completed by May, than the villagers will be in major trouble in the monsoons,” he warned.
