MARGAO: Heavy rainfall in Salcete on Sunday has sparked concerns over severe water logging in the low-lying areas of Benaulim, Seraulim, and Mungul, where the construction of the Western Bypass is planned.
In Benaulim, the bypass is intended to be built with embankments, while in Seraulim and Mungul, it is being constructed on stilts. Residents of Benaulim have long demanded that the bypass passing through their village also be built on stilts, pointing to previous instances of water accumulation during the monsoon season.
They have raised questions about the potential consequences when low-lying areas, such as Tolleabandh, which was submerged on Sunday, are filled with mud for the bypass construction.
Last year, when the area experienced flooding in July, the Water Resources Department (WRD) warned against building the western bypass stretch in Benaulim with embankments, citing the risk of widespread flooding. However, the Goa Public Works Department (PWD) and the Union Ministry of Roads and Highways, responsible for the project and funding, disregarded the warning. The Benaulim village panchayat has approached the High Court (HC), highlighting flaws in the WRD's initial report and presenting an independent hydrologist's findings that identified several gaps.
Benaulim MLA Venzy Vegas voiced concerns over the destruction caused by the land filling of the western bypass and urged the construction of the bypass on stilts to avoid a potential human tragedy.
In Seraulim and Mungul, residents attribute the inundation of low-lying fields and areas to faulty construction and altered water flow resulting from the western bypass project.
They have previously complained about works near the wholesale fish market that have disrupted the natural water flow. Seraulim locals, in particular, worry that water from Nuvem, which would typically flow into Benaulim, is getting stuck in Seraulim, leading to water logging in various spots. The Seraulim road-under-pass, constructed by the railways, has also been affected by flooding.