MARGAO: Residents of Margao, Seraulim, Fatorda and Benaulim and nearby areas have displayed a Margao Floods Relief Boat 2018 at Maddel, Fatorda to highlight the flood issue and alert authorities and residents of threat posed due to the construction of the western bypass.
The residents have raised concerns that the area may flood during monsoons due to massive filling of low lying area from Seraulim to Benaulim on account of the western bypass under construction.
The citizens of Seraulim, Fatorda, Benaulim and Margao submitted a memorandum to the South Goa Collector and Minister Vijai Sardesai urging them to take necessary actions to save property.
“Vast agricultural land, which serve as rainwater basins, have been continuously filled in Fatorda for several years and the other areas too have been acquired for future projects. We in Fatorda have most government projects constructed on agricultural land for example Ravindra Bhavan, swimming pool, Nehru Stadium, SGPDA market, district court, parking lots, KTC bus stand and depot, South Goa Collectorate, ring road, South District Hospital and now the main agricultural lands, which served as rainwater basin in monsoon, have been filled for the western bypass project,” claimed Gonzago Rebello.
“The boat stands as our novel way of protest against the blind land filling and to alert the authorities of the consequences,” said Benjamin Fernandes.
