MARGAO
Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao has strongly batted for the desilting of the River Sal to tide over the problem of flooding in the villages of Benaulim and Seraulim in his constituency, while also reiterating his demand for the construction of the Western bypass
on stilts.
He made a plea to the PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar to take up work on desilting of the river by using the Rs 200 crore fund sanctioned by the Centre.
“There are some people who are demanding construction of the Western bypass on stilts. I am also in agreement with them, but at the same time building the bypass on stilts will by itself not resolve the problem of flooding. That’s the reason why I have been strongly demanding desilting of Sal so that the flood water quickly drains into the Arabian sea,” Churchill told the media on Saturday.
The Benaulim MLA told the media that development works totalling around Rs 24 crore will be executed by the GSIDC across the constituency from December 21. “I am laying the foundation stone for the commencement of works at Benaulim, Orlim, Cavelossim, Varca and Seraulim on December 21,” he stated.
“The Tolleabandh-Khareband stretch of the road in Benaulim will be widened and beautified at a cost of Rs 14 crore. Similarly, coinciding with the 450 years of the St Michael Church, the ancestral footpath from the front of the church to the main MDR road will be taken up for beautification and widening,” he said.
Replying to a question, Churchill said that the PWD will take up road works across the constituency at an estimated cost of Rs 24 crore. “Hot-mixing of all the internal roads has commenced in Colva. Work in the other villages will follow suit,” he added.
Saying that an artificial turf will be built in Carmona at a cost of Rs eight crore, Churchill maintained that he did not interfere in the recently-held election for the post of Carmona sarpanch.
