MARGAO
The planned closure of roads in Benaulim, the Khareband-Pedda-Mungul road to lay an underground line for the discharge of treated sewage into the river Sal, has stirred a hornet’s nest in the village.
While the residents of Pedda and others on Sunday had turned up for the special gram sabha of the Benaulim panchayat to raise the issue, the same was not allowed. But the residents led by Adrian Torres and former Sarpanch Royla Fernandes said the busy road should not be closed for traffic in view of the ensuing Christmas festival.
With concerns expressed in many quarters that roads around the Khareband-Mungul belt will be closed to lay the line for the discharge of treated sewage water in the River Sal, Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao on Sunday has assured that he has impressed upon the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to take up the road digging work only after the Christmas and New year festivities.
A resident of Pedda-Benaulim Adrian Tores and former sarpanch Royla Fernandes had sought to raise the issue of closure of the road from Mungul to Khareband to lay the underground line to discharge treated sewage water in river Sal.
Adrian and Royla told the media after the gram sabha that the Khareband-Pedda-Mungul belt plays host to a significant population and that closure of the roads may cause the people immense hardships. Royla wondered why the treated sewage water is sought to be discharged in the river Sal when the government can use the water for landscaping and other purposes.
Churchill, however, later told the media that he has urged the authorities to keep the road open till January 4, adding that the PWD can then take up the work of laying the line. “The work is being carried out as per the High Court directions. Hence, the PWD had sought to close the road for traffic. Since this is Christmas time, I have told the government to keep the work on hold till January 4”, he said.
Churchill said people would have not have faced these hardships if the previous MLA had not to get the sewage treatment plant near the football grounds, Colva. “The treated water from the plant was supposed to be discharged off Colva beach, but I opposed it tooth and nail that the treated sewage discharge will spell doom for tourism at the iconic Colva beach as well as the adjoining beach belt of Benaulim,” Churchill added.
