MARGAO
In an interesting development, Fisheries Minister and Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado has said that he would not allow any work on the Margao Western bypass to resume in Navelim and Telaulim villages until the government makes provision for flyovers wherever required.
In fact, Avertano said that he had stopped work on the Margao Western bypass last week after the contractor dumped 10 truckloads of mud for land filing at the Salpem lake. “I have stopped work on the bypass passing through Navelim village since I am in favour of construction of flyovers along the bypass stretch passing through my constituency,” Avertano added.
The Minister’s stand assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the demand made by the Navelim villagers to scrap the Western bypass proposed to be built through low-lying water catchment areas.
“When I have myself stopped work on the bypass project in Navelim, I have no reaction to offer to the demand made by Navelim villagers demanding scrapping of the project. And, I will not allow the bypass work to resume in my constituency till the contractor submits a plan and design of the bypass with flyovers,” he said.
As per the bypass design, the National Highway has proposed an underpass at Navelim village, but Avertano has demanded that the government build a flyover at the junction.
Residents of Navelim had on Monday objected to the bypass and sounded highly critical of the government’s failure to come out with a rehabilitation package for the two houses at Telaulim village falling along the bypass alignment. The residents wondered why the government is dilly-dallying in announcing the rehabilitation package for the two houses if it is serious in meting out justice to the people.
