MARGAO
Agitated residents of Navelim took to the roads on Wednesday to firmly oppose construction of the Western bypass along the Salpem lake stretch by filling of land and yet again made a strong pitch for stilts or shift its alignment.
The Aam Aadmi party also lent their support to the residents with the party's State convenor Elvis Gomes making it clear that Navelkars will not allow the bypass to pass through the Salpem lake by filling up the water body.
Activist Sidharth Karapurkar also disclosed plans to take the controversial bypass to the court of law if the BJP government bulldozes with the proposal. "Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had in the past said the Salpem lake will not be filled up to pay way for the bypass. In fact, he had given the nod to construct the bypass on stilts. Today, however, we heard a different story," Karapurkar said. He wondered whether the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress have come together to destroy the ecology and environment of Navelim village. Saying that the villagers are not opposed to the bypass if it is constructed on stilts, Karapurkar said the people will oppose tooth and nail any attempt to fill up the Salpem lake.
Local resident and activist Inacio Vaz told the media that the Margao Municipal Council had destroyed the Salpem lake by discharging sewage waters over the years, while demanding to know whether the government has now plans to sound a death knell for the lake by filling up the water body. "We will never allow the lake to be buried for the bypass. If there are plans to build the bypass on stilts, why is the contractor filling up the water body with truckloads of mud. The ministers and MLAs are inspecting the lake and the bypass route, but the village bio-diversity panel is ignored and kept in the dark. Let the villagers study and take a call on the bypass," he said.
Inacio pointed out that the Western bypass is not meant for Goans, but is being executed by the centre as part of the overall plan to make Goa a coal hub.
Another resident George Barretto said villagers will not take things lying down as he demanded that local MLA Luizinho Faleiro should clear on the bypass road passing through Salpem. He demanded that the authorities immediately stop the ongoing
work before the CM unveils plans and designs of the bypass road.
Agitated residents of Navelim took to the roads on Wednesday to firmly oppose construction of the Western bypass along the Salpem lake stretch by filling of land and yet again made a strong pitch for stilts or shift its alignment.
The Aam Aadmi party also lent their support to the residents with the party's State convenor Elvis Gomes making it clear that Navelkars will not allow the bypass to pass through the Salpem lake by filling up the water body.
Activist Sidharth Karapurkar also disclosed plans to take the controversial bypass to the court of law if the BJP government bulldozes with the proposal. "Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had in the past said the Salpem lake will not be filled up to pay way for the bypass. In fact, he had given the nod to construct the bypass on stilts. Today, however, we heard a different story," Karapurkar said. He wondered whether the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress have come together to destroy the ecology and environment of Navelim village. Saying that the villagers are not opposed to the bypass if it is constructed on stilts, Karapurkar said the people will oppose tooth and nail any attempt to fill up the Salpem lake.
Local resident and activist Inacio Vaz told the media that the Margao Municipal Council had destroyed the Salpem lake by discharging sewage waters over the years, while demanding to know whether the government has now plans to sound a death knell for the lake by filling up the water body. "We will never allow the lake to be buried for the bypass. If there are plans to build the bypass on stilts, why is the contractor filling up the water body with truckloads of mud. The ministers and MLAs are inspecting the lake and the bypass route, but the village bio-diversity panel is ignored and kept in the dark. Let the villagers study and take a call on the bypass," he said.
Inacio pointed out that the Western bypass is not meant for Goans, but is being executed by the centre as part of the overall plan to make Goa a coal hub.
Another resident George Barretto said villagers will not take things lying down as he demanded that local MLA Luizinho Faleiro should clear on the bypass road passing through Salpem. He demanded that the authorities immediately stop the ongoing
work before the CM unveils plans and designs of the bypass road.
