the goan I network
MARGAO
While reiterating his demand that the government should not go ahead with the controversial Western bypass without first desilting the river Sal, Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao on Saturday said he would stand by the decision of the Benaulim and Seraulim panchayats to knock the doors of the High Court on the matter.
The Benaulim MLA, however, conceded that the government has not given him any promise that work will not resume in Benaulim before the desilting of the river Sal. In fact, he said the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is sympathetic to his demand of desilting the river Sal before the resumption of work on the project, but hastened to add that the High Court directions have facilitated the government move to go ahead with the project.
Addressing the media on Saturday, a day after he had a meeting with the Chief Minister on the issue, Churchill said he has no objection to the development taken up by the government, but has impressed upon Sawant that any unplanned development will affect the people of Benaulim and Seraulim, two villages of Benaulim constituency.
“The Chief Minister has only told me that he would try his best to get the central funds to take up desilting of the river Sal,” he added.
The Benaulim MLA recalled that while former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had promised to take up desilting of the river Sal, then PWD Minister Sudin Dhavlikar has assured to get central funds to the tune of Rs 200 crore for the purpose.
“Now, suddenly the District Collector has given police protection to the contractor to resume work on the stretch. They say that the High Court has issued directions to the government to expedite work on the project”, he said, adding that the village panchayats of Benaulim and Seraulim have decided to knock the doors of the High Court precisely because the authorities are resuming the work
on the pretext of its
directions.
When his attention was drawn to his threat to launch a massive agitation to get the work stopped, Churchill said he stands by his threat, but hastened to add that he cannot do much when the village panchayats of Benaulim and Seraulim have resolved to explore the legal option.
“I am with the people of Benaulim and Seraulim. If they are going to the court, I will stand by them. If they want to agitate, I will be with them,” he added.
NCP decides to contest ZP polls on party symbol
