MARGAO
Seraulim, Mungul and Benaulim villagers are bracing up to intensify their agitation against the government’s likely move to bulldoze its way with the Western bypass through their flood-prone areas by taking legal recourse, including filing a petition before the National Green Tribunal.
This became evident at a meeting held at Seraulim village on Sunday evening wherein the speakers said the option of taking legal recourse should also be kept open while simultaneously intensifying the ongoing agitation in favour of the bypass on stilts.
Former MLA Radharao Gracias, who addressed the meeting, said the villagers of Benaulim, Seraulim, Mungul and other areas have a genuine fear that that their villages will be inundated and submerged under water during monsoons if the Western bypass is not built on stilts.
He said the bypass has been planned through the water catchment areas of river Sal, adding that the 35 meters wide mud embankment will certainly affect these villages during the ongoing rainy season. “After I was convinced that the villagers have a genuine fear of loss of life and destruction of property by floods in future, I had issued a notice to the government on behalf of the villagers of Seraulim and the government has replied that the flooding is because of the desilting of river Sal. We are not ready to accept the government’s contention,” he said.
Radharao pointed out that part of the flooding of the water basin is because of the filling of land in Margao and Fatorda for projects, including the Nehru stadium and sports complex, KTC bus stand, district court building, Ravindra Bhavan, which were once water catchment areas.
He pointed out that the continuous two days of rains leaves areas of Benaulim and Seraulim, Mungul belt flooded with water overflowing on the road, adding that these villages will be cut off for days together if the Western bypass becomes a reality sans stilts.
Replying to a question, Radharao said the meeting has decided to file a petition before the district court as well as NGT for relief.
Elvis Godinho said the meeting has constituted a committee of people from the villages of Benaulim, Seraulim and Mungul to take the ongoing agitation forward. “We have inducted on the panel representatives from these villages. We will soon hold meeting to chalk out the future course of action and to protect the interest of the villagers,” he added.
Social activist Rodney Almeida said the villagers will weigh all options, including knocking the doors of the judiciary to stop the government from bulldozing its way with the Western bypass sans stilts.
