MARGAO
Even as the flood plains of river Sal at Mungul lay inundated along the western bypass alignment, where construction of the road on stilts is underway, all eyes are focused on the Tolleaband water body and the low-lying fields at Benaulim as the National Highway, PWD is executing work on the bypass with landfilling.
A visit to Tolleaband, which acts as a water catchment area during the monsoons, showed that the body was getting filled up with water. One could see earthen embankments raised through the Tolleaband water body with additional box culverts for the quick drainage of flood water.
Locals say the fate of the box culverts will be known when the river Sal flows in full spate and there’s a high tide around the same time when the flood water does not recede, but it flows back in the vast tracts of low-lying area of Benaulim, Seraulim and Mungul.
“We have only experienced overnight rains, and the low-lying areas of Mungul along the bypass alignment built on stilts are full to the brim. We do not know what lies in store for the people if there is rain for another day,” remarked a local.
