the goan I network
MARGAO
A ride down the western bypass alignment along the Navelim stretch makes for some interesting reading. After initial dumping of mud to raise an earthen embankment, work on the land-filling at the Salpem lake has come to a halt after Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar assured local Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro of building the western bypass on stilts passing via the picturesque lake.
Land-filling, however, is currently underway on the western side of the Salpem lake towards the Sal river, indicating that the proposed flyover will cover only the lake area and not beyond. What’s interesting to note is that the land-filling activity has been halted right at the embankment of River Sal on the Navelim side. It is still unclear whether the government will go for a flyover from River Sal to the Tolleaband lake, Benaulim and beyond or raise an earthen embankment to pave way for the bypass.
Though the contractor had last month made an attempt to start work on the Benaulim side of the River Sal via land-filling, local residents along with Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao had stopped all work on the site, warning that no work should resume at the site till the Chief Minister inspects the bypass alignment.
Questions are being raised in Benaulim village on the response of the Parrikar-led government to the demand of the local villagers for the construction of a bypass on stilts.
“The Chief Minister has postponed his visit to the site at least on two occasions. Now, the local MLA Churchill Alemao has gone out of station and we have no idea when the promised inspection by the Chief Minister will take place,” remarked a local villager.
Benaulim locals have pointed out that if Chief Minister Parrikar has acceded to the demands of the Navelim MLA and state Congress president, Luizinho Faleiro for a bypass on stilts along the Salpem lake, the government should also consider the genuine demand of Benaulikars for a bypass on stilts along the alignment passing through the village.
“Since the monsoon is just a few days away, we would advise the Chief Minister and the local MLA to wait for the monsoon to set in and see for themselves the
havoc and devastation brought about in the village. Our demand for a bypass on stilts along the Benaulim route is genuine,” remarked another villager.
