SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
MARCOS GONSALVES
BENAULIM: One of the apprehensions is that in the future children from Benaulim and Seraulim will not be able to see the beauty of nature if the government goes ahead with the western bypass project and if not built on stilts. That's not over; even the farming community will be badly affected, as their fields will get flooded. Houses will also get flooded.
The result has already been seen this monsoon, wherein flooding was witnessed in many areas as a result of land filling making way for the western bypass project at Seraulim to Kharebhand-Benaulim.
However, Royla Fernandes and her team, which includes the student community from Benaulim have won half the battle when the National Green Tribunal directed the concerned authorities to form a panel in order to study the matter on an urgent basis after their voice went unheard for many years. Villagers are hoping that panel will act wisely so that major disaster is avoided in near future.
HOW CAN A HIGHWAY BE CONSTRUCTED ON WETLANDS
The question is now, how can a highway be constructed on wetlands? There are places in the country where the works of the highway have been cancelled to save the wetlands. Why has the voice of villagers not heard by the concerned authorities and will NGT come to the rescue in order to save the environment after the study report, which is yet to be submitted?
LOCALS NOT AGAINST BYPASS: BUILD ON STILTS THEY SAY
Residents of Seraulim and Benaulim are demanding western bypass should be built on stilts since 2007 when the National Highways had first disclosed plans to build the bypass. However, the demands of the people got unheard for a very long time, till the NGT issued the directions to the concerned authorities in order to study the matter.
Citizens are of the strong apprehensions that Benaulim besides Seraulim village will get submerged if the bypass is not built on stilts. The effects are already seen in this monsoon, as many roads and fields got flooded.
M/s M Venkata Rao Infra Projects Pvt Ltd., Caranzalem is constructing the 2.75km long Western Bypass through Seraulim to Varca. It is noted that the stretch from Nuvem to Seraulim has already been done and now it is proposed to construct the road over wetlands despite the locals objecting to the same as they fear several houses would be damaged, NGT has observed.
According to the former Benaulim Sarpanch and petitioner in the NGT Royla Fernandes construction of the bypass by filling of land and maintaining that the culverts proposed by the consultant and the National Highway Authority will not stop the flooding of the villages.
"Famous water bodies such as Komla Tollem and Vhoddlem Tollem in Benaulim would be damaged if the western bypass is not built on stilts", claimed Royla.
She further informed that a joint inspection was held on December 18, 2019, and the Agriculture Department’s report clearly indicated that “large scale landfilling has been done for the construction of the Western Bypass” while in other areas there is no outlet for water. NGT has also taken note of this in the recently passed order.
Speaking to Herald Royla further narrated the story behind the movement to save the environment from the western bypass project and said she along with children used to travel from Margao via Kharebhand to Benaulim on a routine basis. The day was so beautiful when they used to enjoy fauna and flora on the roadside.
"Suddenly we heard that Western Bypass will be built over here by filling the wetlands and at that moment I told my children that 'this may be the last time we are enjoying the beauty of nature over here. All were upset. Later, a movement began with the participation of children and students", said Royla.
Reacting to the NGT's order Sidharth Karapurkar, a social activist said that environment needs to be protected. "Actually it was totally unfair on the part of concerned authorities going ahead with the project without studying the ground realities and taking the locals into confidence. The project should be done in a holistic way", he stated.
He is also of the opinion that the western bypass at Seraulim to Benaulim should be on stilts in order to protect the environment. "Flooding is not new, however, man-made flooding, and that too by destroying our environment is not acceptable", said Sidharth.
A student from Benaulim Johann Pereira said that finally their voice been heard by the NGT. "We need to protect our environment, as it is necessary for our survival. Our request is to the government to protect our future", he urged.
