the goan I network
MARGAO
Even as fingers are kept crossed to see how the new coalition government headed by newly-elected Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will address the controversial Western bypass issue, questions are being raised along the flood plains of river Sal whether the culverts erected by the highway authority along the Seraulim-Nuvem border will be suffice to drain out rain water and avoid flooding.
Work on the three-km long stretch of the Benaulim-Seraulim bypass has been stopped for the moment after local residents and elected representatives, including deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai and Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, joined the people in demanding construction of the bypass on stilts.
While PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar had all along been insisting that construction of additional culverts will help drain off the rain water and prevent flooding, questions are raised whether the culverts that have taken shape on the Seraulim-Nuvem border will be suffice enough to ensure quick drainage of water.
Activist Savio Dias, who had in the past raised strong objections to the construction of the Western bypass by filling of low-lying land, said the culvert built along the bypass at the Seraulim-Nuvem border does not inspire confidence that it will take care of flooding. “People of Seraulim, Benaulim and Mungul have been demanding the construction of the bypass on stilts for the simple reason that it will result in unprecedented flooding since the bypass is being built through the flood plains of river Sal. I have doubts that the culvert that has taken concrete shape on the Seraulim-Nuvem will take care of the drainage of the flood water,” Dias said, adding that the authorities should come clear on the drainage planned along the three-km Benaulim-Seraulim stretch of the bypass.
Work on the three-km Benaulim-Seraulim stretch of the Western bypass has not commenced till date after villagers of Seraulim and Benaulim physically stopped the work in 2017. Since then, the coalition government headed by former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had tried to convince the villagers as well as the elected representatives that the flooding issue can be taken care of by building additional culverts or mini-bridges along the problematic stretch.
On the other hand, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar has been insisting on the construction of the bypass with additional culverts as well by desilting the river Sal right from Verna to Betul, a stand that hardly has any takers in Benaulim and Seraulim.
Incidentally, Deputy CM Vijai Sardesai has joined the chorus of opposition for the bypass on the plea that building it on stilts will not inundate low-lying villages. In fact, he had insisted that the centre should sanction additional funds and build the bypass along the controversial stretch on stilts.
