MARGAO
Residents of Benaulim and the coastal belt on Friday questioned the contractor’s plan to lay pavers at the Benaulim underpass instead of tarring the entire road, raising concerns about flooding and inundation during the monsoons.
Benaulim activist Santan Pereira, along with local residents, Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz, Varca-based seafarer Engineer Gabriel Pinto, and others confronted the contractor about the decision to use pavers instead of tar for the road.
They demanded the drainage system design for the Benaulim underpass and urged the contractor to carry out the work as per the approved plan. “We have insisted that the contractor first resolve the drainage issues before proceeding with other work. Poor drainage during the monsoons will flood the underpass and the surrounding areas if the work is not executed as per the design,” Santan asserted.
When residents asked to review the plan, they were informed that it was displayed in the contractor’s office.
Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz, who uses the Margao-Cavelossim road daily, said, “We’ve made it clear to the contractor that the work must follow the approved design to prevent drainage problems in the future.” He added, “The Benaulim underpass should not end up like the Seraulim underpass, which has become non-functional due to waterlogging.”
Gabriel Pinto also reminded the contractor of the obligation to execute the work according to the approved design and plans. He expressed concerns about the quality of the project if drainage issues are not addressed properly before completion.
