the goan I network
MARGAO
Claiming that the construction of a small portion of the Western bypass by filling of land has had a huge impact in the villages of Seraulim and Nuvem, the Seraulim gram sabha on Sunday has asserted that the government’s plans to build the 2.75 km of the bypass through the fields and the wetlands will spell doom for the villages along the route.
In fact, gram sabha members reiterated its demand for the construction of the bypass on stilts to minimise the impact of the bypass passing through the water-catchment areas of the village.
At the Sunday gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Domingo Fernandes, gram sabha member Vincy Fernandes drew the attention of the Chair to the negative impact of the bypass constructed up to the wholesale fish market road as per the High Court May 30 deadline along the low-lying fields.
He pointed out that the stretch had an impact on the smooth flow of the rain water destroying fields in Seraulim and neighbouring Nuvem.
While demanding to know whether the authorities, including the PWD, have assessed the impact of the bypass up to the wholesale fish market had on agriculture and the low-lying fields this monsoon, Vincy said the Western bypass will turn out to be an ecological disaster if it is not built on stilts as demanded by the villagers.
Seraulim Panch Kevin D’Souza was categorical in saying there’s been negative impact on the flow of rain water this time because of the construction of the bypass up to the wholesale fish market. “What we have seen is not development but destruction of the environment. We have to find a solution. We want the authorities to fix the problem to minimise the risk of damage,” he said.
The panch member pointed out that filling of land up to the wholesale fish market has resulted in inundation of the low-lying fields not only in Seraulim, but in neighbouring villages of Nuvem and Verna, destroying agriculture. “Water was not flowing smoothly. In fact, it was observed that the water reversed and inundated the fields,” he added.
The long-delayed road underpass at the Seraulim railway crossing also figured prominently at the meeting, with members calling upon the Chair to write to the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inviting him for an inspection of the problem faced by the villagers in crossing the line due to the increased frequency of the trains.
Members pointed out that though local MLA Churchill Alemao had raised the issue in the Goa Legislative Assembly and outside, the State government has not released the funds for the construction of the road underpass even though the railways have agreed to bear 50 per cent of the cost of the project.
Gram sabha members feared that electrification of the tracks will only add to the woes of the villagers as they have to presently wait for the trains to pass to cross over to the other side of the village at the railway crossing.
The meeting observed one-minute silence as a tribute to former Santa Cruz MLA Victoria Fernandes, who passed away on Saturday. The members also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ISRO scientists for the moon mission.
