the goan I network
MARGAO
After an initial no to the construction of the western bypass on stilts, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Friday assured beleaguered residents of Benaulim constituency that he would get the State government move the Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari with a proposal to build the 3.5 km stretch of the bypass passing through the flood plains of Salcete on stilts.
At an interaction with the residents of Seraulim and Benaulim arranged by Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao at the South District Collectorate, the PWD Minister kept repeating that it’s not possible to build the bypass on stilts at this stage, but later yielded to the long-standing demand, saying that he would use his influence with Nitin Gadkari to consider taking up the 3.5 km stretch of the bypass on stilts with a
fresh tender.
Dhavalikar maintained that the project cost of the western bypass has already touched a whopping Rs 440 crore as against the initial estimated cost of Rs 2.80 crore, adding that building the bypass on stilts will further push the project estimate to around Rs 800-900 crore. “I think it would be difficult to take up the bypass on stilts in the existing project. A separate tender may be required for the stretch to be built on stilts. For this, I will talk to the Union Surface Transport Minister within 15 days with a plea to sanction the stilts project,” Dhavalikar added.
He said the PWD will move a note to the Finance department on the proposal to build the 3.5 km stretch of the bypass on stilts before taking the proposal to the Centre. “I have decided to take up the proposal to build the bypass on stilts following a representation from the local MLA Churchill Alemao and after an interaction with the residents of Seraulim, Benaulim and Mungul. They fear that the downstream areas of the river Sal will be inundated during monsoon in the event the low-lying fields are filled up with mud,” he said, while saying that he would get back to the local MLA on the response of the Centre to the proposal.
While thanking the PWD Minister, Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao said that building the bypass on stilts along the flood plains of river Sal is an only solution to overcome flooding.
Earlier, the residents of Seraulim, Benaulim and Mungul made a forceful plea to the PWD Minister to see reason and get the bypass on stilts sanctioned from the Centre. Even as the contractor was explaining the project with a powerpoint presentation, the residents got the presentation stopped. Instead, they demanded that the government should strongly take up with the Centre for a bypass on stilts.
Activist Rodney Almeida demanded to know whether the government is giving its ears to the people or is the dispensation out to bulldoze with the project come what may. “The fields which are sought to be filled up are eco-sensitive areas. Filling up these low-lying areas will only result in unprecedented flooding,” he said.
As the PWD Minister insisted that the additional nullahs along the low-lying areas should solve the problem of flooding, the residents replied back with a firm no, rejecting Dhavalikar’s proposal. The residents also rejected the PWD Minister’s proposal to allow the contractor to build a km-long stretch of the bypass along the low-lying areas to study the impact of flooding in the area.
Former Sarpanchas of Benaulim John Barretto and Agnel Fernandes, besides former MMC Chairperson Gonzaco Rebello, vehemently opposed construction of the bypass via land filling. John Barretto, in particular, drew attention of the PWD Minister to the fact that Benaulim is prone to floods, making it clear that development cannot come at the cost of the people.
Benaulim Sarpanch Dielle Fernandes, Seraulim Sarpanch Domingos Fernandes, besides panch members and citizens attended the interaction along with senior PWD officials.
