Maintain if Navelim villagers can have it, they too can
the goan I network
MARGAO
While the Chief Minister has conceded to demands of Navelim villagers to construct a flyover over the Salpem lake in Navelim village, Parrikar is silent on a similar demand raised by Benaulim and Seraulim villagers over the last year and half.
Indeed, questions are raised in Benaulim countryside whether the government has ignored the persistent demands of the villagers for a bypass on stilts as The
Goan understands that the PWD, NH officials have only prepared estimates only for a bypass on stilts along the Salpem Lake, Navelim.
The Goan further understands that the Chief Minister made no reference to either Benaulim or Seraulim the flood plains along the banks of River Sal and which normally bears the brunt of flooding during the monsoons.
The government’s stand is baffling since the PWD, National Highway has till date not commenced work on the 3.5 km stretch of the bypass falling in Benaulim village following strong objections from local villagers and the neighbouring village of Seraulim.
That the Chief Minister has conceded to the demands of Navelim villagers, directing the PWD officials to prepare estimates for a bypass on stilt over Salpem lake has indeed baffled people in Benaulim, making the people wonder whether Benaulim finds no mention in the government scheme of things.
Incidentally, ex-MLA Caitu Silva, during his tenure as the local MLA, had ensured that that the contractor is stopped from dumping mud for the proposed bypass, fearing large scale flooding of the village during monsoons.
Says activist Roque Fernandes: “It was indeed surprising that the Chief Minister has not made any mention of Benaulim or Seraulim villages when he favoured a flyover over Salpem lake,
Navelim. We are trying to find out whether there’s no government proposal to build a similar flyover the flood plains of Benaulim and Seraulim.”
Benaulim deputy Sarpanch Xavier Fernandes told The Goan on Sunday that the government should take up the bypass on stilts to save Benaulim from being
submerged under water during monsoon. “It is an open secret that many parts of Benaulim, including Khareband, Tolleaband, Pedda areas get inundated during monsoons. A bypass via land filling will only aggravate
matters and result in large scale flooding of the village,” Xavier said.
Activists, villagers ready to go to NGT
MARGAO: Social activists and villagers are bracing up to take the Western bypass issue to the National Green Tribunal with the government not disclosing any plan to construct the bypass on stilts.
Activists Abhijit Prabhudesai, Sidharth Karapurkar, Roque Fernandes along with AAP Benaulim candidate Royla Fernandes and villagers descended on the Pedda area of Benaulim on Sunday to chalk out future course of action. They were accompanied by a lady lawyer, practicing in the NGT court at Pune as they inspected the Western bypass alignment passing through low-lying and flood plains of Benaulim village, especially through the Tolleaband lake. Abhijit told The Goan after the inspection that the villagers are gearing up to knock the doors of the NGT. “Villagers had been demanding a bypass on stilts for a long time now, but the government is only dilly dallying on the matter,” he said, adding that the villagers will have no option but to go to the NGT.
