MARGAO
Faleiro said the government will soon enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the affected families, wherein the government will re-construct the houses before Christmas and accommodate them in rental premises till the completion of the project. He further said that Parrikar has promised to restore the once picturesque Salpem lake to its original condition by stopping the sewage flow into the water body.
Addressing the media in the presence of Congress general secretary Avinash Tavares and Swati Kerkar at the district Congress office, South, Faleiro said the Chief Minister has paid heed to his note, requesting the government to rehabilitate the displaced families and build the bypass on stilts passing along the Salpem lake.
“I had a meeting with the Chief Minister along with the affected families on Thursday, wherein Parrikar agreed to address both the issues raised by me. The Chief Minister has immediately directed the PWD, NH officials to prepare estimates for the bypass on stilts so that he can seek funds from the Union Surface Transport Ministry to meet the cost of constructing the bypass on stilts,” he said.
Estimates prepared by the highway officials have put the additional cost of the flyover along the Salpem lake stretch to Rs 180 crore, Faleiro added.
He pointed out that PWD officials sought to argue that the Salpem lake is not put to use and that the bypass will be built along the lake edge, but he put his foot down in favour of the stilts.
“The Chief Minister has not only agreed to put a stop the sewage flow into the Salpem lake, but to make the lake a recreational zone,” he added.
When it was pointed out that the outgoing Navelim MLA and ex-fisheries minister Avertano Furtado had claimed on March 27 that the Chief Minister has assured to build the bypass on stilts, Faleiro shot back saying that a reply by the National Highways under the RTI Act made no mention of the construction of the bypass on stilts.
