MARGAO
He came, he inspected and went back but not before PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral handed out an assurance to the people of Benaulim that the government will take a conscious decision on the western bypass, with villagers making a fervent plea to construct the bypass passing through the village on stilts.
After consultations and discussions with senior PWD engineers and the contractor undertaking the bypass work on Friday, Cabral told media persons that he and the government will decide on how to go about with the bypass construction when people are apprehensive that the bypass on embankments will cause large scale destruction to the environment and the village.
“Whatever decisions we take, we will take the sentiments of the people into account. We have been elected for the people. I have seen the progress of the work on the western bypass. The High Court is monitoring the work. I have asked for the bar chart to find out the quantum of work executed so far,” he said.
Cabral added: “Benaulim villager Royla Fernandes has been after me since the time I was holding the Environment portfolio demanding the western bypass on stilts. Following her petitions, I constituted a committee to look into the issues coming with the scope of biodiversity.”
Stating that the government has accepted the recommendation of the NGT-appointed committee to build 1.4 km of the western bypass on stilts, Cabral said people still feel that the bypass is not covering a portion of the Benaulim stretch.
“I have asked for clarification on the bypass and how many metres of the 1.4 km stretch of the bypass on stilts falls in Benaulim. We will take a conscious decision since the people are apprehensive over the bypass sans stilts,” he added.
Shedding light on the bypass construction, Cabral said the balance 2.75 km portion of the stretch was re-tendered at an estimated cost of Rs 148 crore.
“After the government accepted the NGT panel’s recommendation to build the portion of the bypass on stilts admeasuring 1.2 km, the cost has now gone up to Rs 238 crore. It’s easy to talk in crores, but finally, we should remember the money belongs to the exchequer. The PWD has proposed to build the 1.5 km stretch on embankments by constructing seven culverts,” he said.
Earlier, the PWD Minister inspected the bypass near the wholesale fish market with senior PWD engineers and the contractor. The officials informed the minister that all four road crossings at the wholesale fish market, Colva road, Khareband and Benaulim-Varca road will have an underpass of the National Highway standard. After pointing out to ask for a bar chart from the officials, the Minister promised to review the progress of work on the project every fortnight so that the work is executed as per the chart.
Public not prepared to accept treated sewage water for daily usage: Minister
MARGAO
Stating that people are not psychologically prepared to accept treated sewage water for daily usage, PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral on Friday said treated sewage water will be discharged in the rivers till there’s a change in the public perception of treated sewage.
The PWD Minister was in Benaulim and Colva to review the progress of the construction of the Colva sewerage treatment plant, which has witnessed opposition to the government plan to discharge the treated sewage water in river Sal.
Cabral, however, agreed with the demand of the Benaulim panchayat and the villagers that the treated sewage water should be visible to the people so that they can complain to the officials in the event they suspect foul play.
Saying that he has inherited the problem of Colva STP issue, which has been hanging fire over the last seven years, Cabral said the people of Benaulim have demanded that the treated sewage water from the Colva STP should be visible before it is discharged into the river Sal at Khareband. “I do not see anything wrong in their demand. They should see the water flowing and in the event of any foul play, make the officials accountable”, he said.
He, however, said those who are objecting to the discharge of the treated sewage water into the river should go to court, saying he will also file an affidavit in the court to make these people accountable.
PWD Minister speaks of courage, political will to take decisions
MARGAO
Saying the PWD is not averse to taking cognisance of the genuine difficulties of the people, PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral on Friday cautioned that he has the courage and the political will to take decisions.
Stating that the PWD will float a tender to take up work on the Navelim-Cuncolim stretch of the NH-66 around March 2023, Cabral, however, said Cuncolim MLA & Opposition leader Yuri Alemao had called up the officials to discuss the land acquisition pertaining to the Cuncolim bypass.
Saying that the PWD minister receives bad words in the event of an accident, with people even asking whether the minister is in a sleep mode, Cabral said: “I want to make clear that I am not sleeping, but I am awake. Just because of 4-5 persons, we cannot stop a road project from coming up. My land is going for acquisition at Verna, but I cannot join the 4-5 persons to oppose the same.”
Saying that sacrifices need to be made for the larger public cause, Cabral, however, warned: “Wherever we can help, we will help. But, if it is not possible, I will be left with no option but to bulldoze. I have the capacity to face people. I do not roam around with police protection.”
