MARGAO
There’s no stop to the large-scale inundation of the low-lying areas of Seraulim, with the paddy fields submerged under water since the last one week.
A group of beleaguered farmers called on the Seraulim sarpanch Seema Shanke with their grievances, who later called on Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas to work out a solution.
Locals pointed out that rainwater flowing from the Nuvem side is not flowing towards Benaulim but instead is moving towards Duncolim and the low-lying area behind the Seraulim Church.
At the wholesale fish market junction, one could find the low-lying areas on both sides of the western bypass full to the brim. Locals feared that the water might overflow on the road if the rains continued unabated.
In fact, during the flood risk assessment carried out at the Tolleaband water body in Benaulim on Wednesday morning, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas was forthright in saying that the large-scale flooding witnessed in Seraulim village is the direct effect of the landfilling undertaken by the PWD, National Highway to build the western bypass.
Seraulim locals at their gram sabhas had in the recent past expressed fears that though the PWD, National Highway is building the western bypass on stilts passing through the village, landfilling in neighbouring Benaulim to build the bypass without stilts will result in backflow of rainwater and inundate the low-lying fields.
