MARGAO
This report should come as a wakeup call for the government, PWD-National Highway, besides the 10-member expert panel constituted by the National Green Tribunal to go into the issues of inundation of the flood plains of river Sal if the western bypass is built on earthen embankment.
A report compiled by the Water Resources department (WRD) on recent flooding in Benaulim during last week’s rains has stopped short of saying the western bypass needs to be built on stilts.
The report, however, has sounded a warning that there is a high possibility of flood waters rising at a magnified level in the future if the western bypass is constructed on embankment filling for the remaining portion from Mungul Railway line till the Kharebandh-Varca road on the Benaulim stretch.
The report was categorical in saying that the possibility of disaster to life, livelihood and property of the local inhabitants in future needs to be considered in going ahead with the construction of the western bypass on embankment in the said reach.
Taking serious cognizance of the report compiled by the WRD Assistant engineer, Sainath M Jamakhandi, WRD Executive Engineer, Ankush Gaunkar has recommended to the government conduct a model study with an expert hydrologist to avoid the worst circumstances in future that may occur on account of development along the bank of river Sal.
In fact, the WRD Executive engineer, Gaunkar pointed out that due to the heavy showers, the existing road networks were inundated at many places causing stoppage of traffic movement. He even made a mention that very complex hydraulics were observed during the high tide during the heavy rains.
While saying that flooding of houses were also observed towards the Margao city in Comba near Vital Mandir area, the Executive Engineer observed that the situation was in absence of Western Bypass and it may become complex and may result in more worse conditions after completion of the western bypass.
Officials pointed out the report should come as an eye opener for the government and the 10-member expert panel constituted by the NGT to consider the sustained demand made by the villagers of Benaulim to have the western bypass constructed on stilts.
While the 10-member NGT-constituted panel had recommended construction of the bypass on stilts up to a stretch of 980 meters from the wholesale fish market road at Seraulim to the railway over bridge at Mungul, Benaulim villagers have continued their battle in support of the bypass passing through the village on stilts.
Benaulim villagers had been demanding construction of the western bypass passing through the village on stilts, fearing large scale flooding of the plains as well as the residential areas in the future.
