MARGAO
Even as the PWD, National Highway and the contractor is rushing against time to complete the balance portion of the western bypass passing through Seraulim-Mungul-Benaulim village, the message that earthen embankment raised through the picturesque Tolleaband lake is a testimony that the government has ignored all pleas made by the farmers and villagers to build the bypass on stilts.
As the earthen embankment has been raised though the Tolleaband lake, one can see lush green paddy fields on both sides of the earthen embankment, with farmers resolute in cultivating the paddy fields of their ancestors.
No doubt, one can find over half a dozen culverts dotting along the 600-metre long earthen embankment passing through the Tolleaband water body. Farmers and villagers alike, however, are skeptical whether the culverts will help drain the flood water inundating the lake during heavy monsoons and avert large scale flooding of the low lying areas.
In fact, both farmers and villagers are keeping fingers crossed over the drainage plan implemented by the PWD, National Highway when they have been waging a sustained battle over half a decade, demanding construction of the bypass passing through Tolleaband water body on stilts.
