MARGAO
With dark clouds are hovering over the sky over the last couple of days, indicating the changing weather conditions ahead of the onset of the monsoons, Seraulim farmers and citizens alike fear the worse in the coming rains “ inundation of their fields and water catchment areas.
Reason: They pointed out that the PWD, National Highways and the contractor engaged by the Union Ministry of Road Transport to execute the Margao western bypass has not lifted away the debris from the service roads built to facilitate the bypass work.
In fact, while the PWD, NH and the contactor were told in November last that they need to lift away the debris and mud used for land filing, the ground reality has remained unchanged.
This became evident on Thursday at a joint inspection of the bypass site near the Margao wholesale fish market, which was attended by officials of the PWD, NH, representatives of the contactor, Seraulim sarpanch Seema Shanke along with Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas.
At the inspection, ex-Seraulim Panchayat member Kevin D’Souza drew attention of the Benaulim MLA that neither the PWD, NH nor the contractor have till date lifted away the debris and silt dumped in the fields to make way for a temporary road to transport men and machinery for the bypass work.
He said farmers have been facing floods and inundation of their paddy fields since the time the PWD and the contractor had undertaken land filling to prepare the temporary road.
“We have been demanding that the PWD lift away the debris and restore the area to its original condition, but in vain”, Kevin said, adding that nothing has changed on the ground since the last inspection carried out in November last.
Benaulim MLA Venzy later told the media that the PWD, NH and the representative of the contractor has agree to lift away the debris from the fields and restore the land to its original condition. He, however, wondered whether the PWD or the contractor would be able to complete the job with monsoons just few days away.
“Around 60,000 cubic metres of debris is lying on the stretch which was filled up to make the temporary road. My question is whether it is possible to lift away the debris within a month’s time. The PWD and the contractor says it is possible to do so. Let us wait and see”, Venzy said, adding that the contractor has promised to start the work by next week.
The Benaulim MLA further demanded that the contractor be directed to clear debris from the water bodies which have been affected during the western bypass work.
