the goan I network
MARGAO
Making it clear that construction of the balance portion of the Western bypass passing through the flood plains of river on stilts will depend on the availability of funds, PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar on Tuesday said he would take up the western bypass issue with Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari during his visit to the state on November 29.
The PWD Minister further said that though the government has decided to discharge the treated Colva sewage water into the river Sal, the PWD is open to making available the treated water to the construction industry, including the ONGC if they want the treated water.
Pauskar made it further clear that the government would go by the Court directions to complete the western bypass only if the question of funds of the balance 2.75 km stretch of the bypass is not resolved by the Centre or the state government.
“The Centre has set a deadline to the state to complete all NH projects in Goa, including the western bypass by December 2020. The HC also issued directions to the government to complete the project. At the same time, we do not want to fool the people of Benaulim and Seraulim. We will explore all avenues including knocking the doors of Union Minster Nitin Gadkari and the Centre to make available additional funds. If funds do not come, we will have no option than to go ahead with the bypass as per HCdirections,” he added.
Pauskar further said the government has set in motion the process to get the river Sal desilted to prevent
flooding.
“We had meetings with the WRD, RND on river Sal desilting. We are also trying to ascertain the status of the funds promised by the Centre for desilting of river Sal”, he said, while saying the government will take all possible steps to prevent flooding of the flood plains of river Sal.
