MARGAO
After meeting the MLAs at South Goa District Collectorate on Tuesday evening, the PWD Minister later told The Goan that PWD would revise the estimates of the project in view of the demands made by the MLAs, and later forward the same to the Union Surface Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari for approval.
The PWD Minister along with senior officials, including Principal Chief Engineer, D G S Borkar had a meeting with the four legislators, including Navelim MLA and Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado in a bid to understand the apprehensions raised by the people along the 12-km bypass route and to work out solutions.
Nuvem MLA Mickky Pacheco urged the Minister not to misguide the people, and come clear on the project by taking the locals into confidence. He demanded that PWD should demarcate the acquired land in Nuvem before taking up any land filling, adding that though he had a meeting with the local PWD officials on the demarcation aspect, there’s no change in the ground reality.
When the PWD Minister sought to pacify him that PWD would carry out desilting of the River Sal to address flooding concerns, Mickky demanded to know how the de-silting work can commence along the river course immediately when people have erected bandharas by spending huge amounts
of money.
After the meeting, Mickky told The Goan that he would not allow resumption of work on the bypass till the River Sal is desilted first. “They have promised around four culverts at Gorvetti in Nuvem. I want to check the feasibility report since it is based on a consultant report, which can be manipulated like in the case of the Dona Paula-Vasco sea link,”
he said.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai pointed out that it is clear there’s been no proper study carried out by PWD on the flood pattern.
“The contractor is unaware about the monsoon pattern in the water catchment area. He must have a commitment with the National Highway officials, but not with the affected people. The contractor should commit himself to the people of Fatorda and Salcete by taking up desilting work on priority basis. I have told the Minister to take up de-silting first and then carry out the land filling work. I know that river de-silting is not part of the tender, but the government should make a provision. Otherwise, no land filling will be allowed,” he said.
Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva said though other legislators have agreed for the land filing post the de-silting of River Sal, he has insisted on the construction of the bypass on stilts along the stretch passing through Benaulim.
“The PWD may give assurances and promises, but we know the ground reality during monsoons. It is a common fact that vast tracts of area in Benaulim will be submerged under water once there’s land filling the water catchment area,” Caitu emphasised, and further warned that he would call a meeting of all Benaulikars if the government attempts to push the project with
earthen embankments.
On the other hand, Navelim MLA and Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado said the PWD Minister has agreed to his demand for additional culverts along the Salpem lake, besides a flyover at Navelim.
“The Minister has agreed to my demand for additional culverts and a flyover besides desilting of the river Sal,”
he added. The PWD Minister later told The Goan that he had called a meeting with the MLAs to ascertain their difficulties over the bypass issue.
“They have placed their demands, and we will send it to Delhi after preparing the revised estimates. We will place the revised estimates before Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for necessary sanctions,”
he said. Asked to outline the major problems cited by the MLAs to the western bypass, Dhavalikar said the MLAs were apprehensive that the bypass will result in large-scale flooding of the villages and the land filling in the catchment areas will increase flooding. They have asked for the de-silting of the River Sal and we have agreed to this proposal,”
he said.
Asked to comment on Caitu’s demand for the construction of the bypass on stilts along the stretch passing through Benaulim, Dhavalikar informed that the Benaulim MLA’s demand for a flyover will increase cost of the project by `450 crore, adding that he has not given any assurance to the Benaulim MLA without first getting approval from
the Centre.
