the goan I network
MARGAO
A day after the PWD (National Highways) resumed work on the Western bypass on the Seraulim stretch of the road, Seraulim sarpanch dashed off a letter to the executive engineer to share with the panchayat the High Court Order directing the PWD to complete work up to the Margao wholesale fish market road.
Sarpanch Domingos Fernandes also drew attention of the PWD executive engineer, Laxmikant Naik, to the recent meeting local MLA Churchill Alemao and panchayat members had with PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar, wherein it was decided not to go ahead with the Western bypass until the river Sal is desilted and its impact reassessed.
The Seraulim panchayat’s letter to the PWD EE as it comes two days after Laxmikant Naik, in his letter to the panchayat body, spoke about High Court directions to commence work on the stalled project, even going to the extent of warning the panchayat body that it may amount to contempt of court if the work is stopped by the people.
“Please share the High Court order with the panchayat directing the PWD to complete the incomplete work on the Western bypass via Seraulim,” the Seraulim sarpanch told the PWD engineer.
While saying that the panchayat fully respects the High Court, the sarpanch said the local body on behalf of the people would like to present its case before the court so that justice is done to the villagers. The sarpanch came on record to inform about the meeting Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao and the sarpanchas had with PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar on May 7 wherein it was decided that no work on the bypass will be started along the stretch until the river Sal is desilted and its impact reassessed.
The sarpanch reiterated that the villagers are not against the development of the state, but cautioned that it should not come at the cost of lives and livelihood of the villagers.
The Seraulim panchayat’s reply to the PWD EE comes a day after the PWD resumed dumping of mud for filling of land on the stretch touching the Margao wholesale fish market road.
The panchayat reply assumes significance since the PWD EE spoke about the High Court having passed an order to complete the stretch up to the wholesale fish market road by May 2019 so that the available constructed stretch can be put to use as the balance stretch from fish market, Seraulim road to Varca road is being up for preparation of fresh DPR.
The PWD had literally sounded a warning in the letter the panchayat saying any obstructions to the High Court directives to commence work on land filing shall be treated as contempt of the court.
