the goan I network
MARGAO
South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha has rallied behind the people of Benaulim and Seraulim, extending his support to their demand for the bypass on stilts along the 2.7 km stretch passing through the flood plains of these two villages, saying building the bypass sans stilts will not only inundate these villages during monsoons but destroy agricultural fields.
In fact, the South Goa MP told senior PWD officials to file a fresh affidavit in the High Court outlining the genuine apprehensions of the villagers to flooding and destruction of agricultural fields. He also requested the agitating villagers to file an intervention application in the High Court.
Saying that he would pursue with the Centre for allocation of additional funds to build the bypass on stilts if the Goa government moots a strong proposal to the Union Ministry for Surface Transport, Sardinha said he is convinced that stilts is the only solution to save these two villages from inundation and the agricultural fields along the stretch.
The MP arranged a meeting with the South Goa Collector Ajit Roy and senior PWD officials after a delegation of the villagers from Benaulim and Seraulim called on him in the district Collectorate on Thursday. Sardinha reminded the delegation that he had descended on the road at Mungul around two years ago in support of the people opposing the bypass via land filing.
“The PWD engineers told me that the Secretary, Government of India has filed an affidavit in the court, saying they are putting additional culverts to avoid inundation. But, I pointed out to them that culverts will not only tack flooding but will destroy the agricultural fields along the route,” he said.
Sardinha told the engineers that there was no application of mind when the estimates were being prepared by the agencies, saying this will cost the State now since the difference of the estimates will be borne by the State government.
Benaulim Sarpanch Ezlina Fernandes later told the waiting media that the delegation of villagers have impressed upon the South Goa MP and the district Collector that the only way out is to build the bypass on stilts.
Former Benaulim Sarpanch Royla Fernandes explained to the MP and district Collector how the disaster management authorities evacuate residents inhabiting Tolleaband every monsoon due to inundation of the low lying areas of Benaulim.
