MARGAO
Prayers and candlelight procession marked the silent march by the residents of Benaulim on Sunday, with the people seeking the intervention of Our Lady of Livrament to grant wisdom and strength to the government and the powers that be to build the controversial western bypass passing through the village on stilts.
The people, including children and priests, joined the candlelight peaceful protest coinciding with the feast of Our Lady of Livrament near the Tolleaband water body at Benaulim where the government has drawn up plans to build the bypass.
Fr Roger Godinho prayed to the Almighty to grant wisdom and strength to the government to save Benaulim and Goa and protect the environment for posterity.
Saying that the people have all come together to save Benaulim and its water bodies, Fr Godinho said, “Let the western bypass come in the village, but on stilts, so that the environment and eco-systems are all protected. The low-lying fields where the bypass is being planned are catchment areas for water flowing from Margao, Verna, Seraulim and other villages. Building the bypass without stilts will only cause environmental damage of huge proportions,” he said.
Young children from the village pointed out that the bypass will pass through the fields and right in their backyard.
Saying they presently enjoy having a glimpse of the cattle grazing in the fields and the migratory birds settling in the water bodies every season, they demanded to know whether the government will be able to protect all these in the future.
“If the land is filled with earth, we will not be able to see the cattle and the birds in these water bodies. Filling of land may cause flooding of our homes,” they said while making a fervent plea to the government not to put their lives to risks.
A resident Royla Fernandes said prayers have been organized near the bypass site in order to change the mind of the government and build the bypass on stilts.
“Today is the feast of Our Lady of Livrament. We have sought Mother Mary’s intervention to save our village and its environment and ecosystems from destruction,” Royla said.
