SUNDAY, MAY 05, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Locals of Sinquetim and Benaulim on Sunday strongly opposed the under-construction bridge at Sinquetim, Navelim alleging that the construction work is underway without acquiring the land.
A large number of citizens from Sinquetim and Benaulim gathered at the site and objected to the bridge and said that they will not allow the government to continue the construction work at any cost.
Former legislator Avertano Furtado, besides former Benaulim MLA Caitu D’Silva and other local leaders also attended and expressed their objections to the bridge.
Earlier, Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao had stated that the Sinquetim Bridge will be completed as scheduled. He had also alleged that Avertano has self-interest in opposing the bridge.
Speaking to the media persons, Avertano said that the people of Sinquetim are totally against the bridge.
"The then Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar had inspected the site and ordered to scrap the bridge, and since then the work was stopped. Now, suddenly Churchill has raised his voice in favour of the bridge. Why Churchill was silent for the last one year?" he questioned.
Avertano refuted the charges laid by Churchill of filling the water bodies.
"Churchill is talking all senseless and fooling the people,” he charged.
Caitu said, “This Sinquetim Bridge is not a need of the people but destruction to the environment.”
“The acquisition of land is yet to be completed. How can the work of the bridge commence? Why is a bridge required when the locals are against it?” he questioned.
Many other local leaders also expressed their strong opposition to construct the bridge at Sinquetim. The locals have claimed that they are already facing a tough time to handle the garbage issue created due to the Telaulim Bridge, wherein outsiders are noticed dumping their garbage into the fields near the bridge.
The people have also demanded stern action against all the government officers for giving permission without assessing the ground-zero reality.
