MARGAO
Can Margao MLA Digambar Kamat help save the low-lying areas of Benaulim, Margao and Fatorda from inundation by getting the Goa government and Centre to sanction funds to build the Benaulim stretch of the western bypass on stilts?
People of Benaulim have pinned hopes on the former chief minister to use his good offices with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Union Minister of Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari to sanction the funds to build the remaining stretch on stilts.
When the media pointed out that the people of Benaulim and Margao look to him to get financial sanction from the Centre, Kamat replied by saying he is not in the government, enjoying no position in the ruling dispensation and have no powers as such to take a call on the western bypass.
He, however, hastened to add that he has tried to use his good offices with the Chief Minister as well as in the Ministry of Union Surface Transport to arrange the necessary funds for the bypass on stilts.
He has pointed out that he may get a reply on the demand from the surface transport ministry on the matter in the next 8-10 days.
“I have taken up the matter with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. The Chief Minister said he would also see how best to address the issue of the western bypass. I have also used my good offices with the centre to explore the possibility of getting the financial sanction,” he said.
He added: “The main problem is funding the balanced stretch on stilts. The Ministry of Surface Transport has to arrange the funds. I have spoken to them. Let us wait for some message from the Centre in the next 8-10 days.”
None other than the seven-time Margao MLA knows for sure that inundation of the low-lying areas of Benaulim would have an impact on the low-lying areas of the Margao constituency, around the Comba area.
A high-level committee constituted by the Margao MLA around two decades ago headed by Deputy Collector Sanjit Rodrigues to go into the unprecedented flooding of Margao had strongly recommended a re-think on the construction of the western bypass along the present alignment on grounds that the bypass is passing the wetland areas of Margao and Benaulim.
The Goan understands that the Margao MLA has got the PWD officials to prepare a note on the demand raised by the villagers of Benaulim and has forwarded the same to the Union Ministry of Surface Transport Ministry.
