Seraulim locals demand stilts to prevent flooding in villages

The gram sabha has further demanded that the PWD, national highway complete the ongoing construction of the bypass along the Seraulim-Mungul railway bridge on stilts before the onset of monsoons and clear the debris dumped in the low-lying fields to avoid flooding.

The western bypass issue took centre stage at the gram sabha meeting of the Seraulim panchayat chaired by sarpanch Seema Shanke, with members expressing fears of flooding in the coming monsoons.

The members thanked the government for constructing the western bypass passing through Seraulim on stilts but pointed out that the villages, including Nuvem, will be inundated by floods if the bypass is not built on stilts in Benaulim.

Members pointed out that Seraulim will also be affected by flooding if there is the submersion of Benaulim in the event the bypass is not built on stilts. Hence, they demanded that the construction of the western bypass on stilts along the Seraulim-Mungul rail bridge is continued in Benaulim village as well.

The gram sabha members raised apprehensions that the village may be flooded this year if the debris dumped in the low-lying fields to raise the temporary road to construct the bypass on stilts is not cleared before the onset of monsoons. Hence, the gram sabha adopted a resolution demanding the completion of the bypass on stilt work in Seraulim before the onset of monsoons and pave way for the clearance of the debris from the low-lying fields.

Gram sabha member Vincent Fernandes drew the attention of the sarpanch to the deaths taking place on the railway tracks for want of barricades. With the trains running at a speed of around 100 kmph, he also called for installing sound barriers along the track since houses located along the tracks have developed cracks.

The gram sabha also discussed the budget estimates for the financial year 2023-24.