Villagers of Navelim and Telaulim gather near the western bypass bridge (underpass) on Saturday noon. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO: As the PWD, National Highways have threatened to lay the slab of the western bypass underpass passing through Telaulim village, villagers of Navelim and Telaulim on Saturday once again insisted that the PWD raise the height of the bridge to 5.5 meters.
The villagers feared that constructing the bridge of less than four meters height will not allow the fire tender to pass from under the bridge. The villagers further raised apprehensions that the PWD, National Highways may facilitate a passage with a height of 5.5 meters by excavating the main road, fearing this would result in water logging a la the Comba subway during monsoons.
While the villagers pointed out that they have not stopped work on the bridge, they reiterated their plea to increase the underpass height to 5.5 meters.
Given the situation in view of the police protection sought by the PWD, National Highways to complete the bridge (underpass) work, the villagers of Navelim and Telaulim have now decided to approach their respective village panchayats on Monday to ascertain the exact legal position. They maintained that if the PWD has got orders for police protection, the villagers may also explore the possibility of knocking the doors of the judiciary to seek justice.
Navelim resident George Barretto informed that the villagers of Navelim and Telaulim are not opposed to the construction of the bridge (underpass), but have been only insisting that the height of the bridge (underpass) be maintained at 5.5 meters. “We have been told that the courts have also ruled that the bridge has to be of 5.5 meter in height. But, if you visit the site, the current height of the bridge is not even four meters”, George said.
He lamented that though the villagers of Navelim and Telaulim have adopted a host of resolutions demanding the height of the western bypass bridge be 5.5 meters, the PWD has not paid any heed.
He said the villagers will also call upon the two village panchayats to take the matter to the High Court for justice.
