BENAULIM: The earth warriors of Benaulim have set a template for a gritty, though along-drawn-out battle to save their river Sal. A battle that also includes constant interaction and pleadings before the court to explain that they are not anti-projects, but pro-preservation of their precious resources. A battle that is taking them to ministers, lawyers, and judges. A selfless battle where no one benefits personally. It’s a simply a fight for their beloved Benaulim.
The list of warriors is too long. From those in the panchayat elected representatives, their political rivals, common men, and women have given a befitting example to future generations of what love for the land and the fight to protect it means.
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On this Mother Earth Day, they deserve salutations from every Goan.
A day after the High Court had declined to grant a stay to the work of laying a pipeline for the treated sewage water in Benaulim to discharge into the River Sal from the Colva Sewage Treatment Plant, Banalkars still didn’t give up hope of knocking the doors again, not as opponents or those who disrespect the judiciary but as explainers. Of course, ultimately the judiciary is supreme and that is respected by all Banalkars.
On Thursday, they made clear their intentions that they want to protect the River Sal from further contamination, and are not opposed to the proposed sewage project, at the meeting with Revenue Minister Babush Monserrate on Thursday at the secretariat at Porvorim.
The Minister has suggested a joint meeting along with the PWD Minister to find a solution.
A delegation led by Benaulim MLA Capt Venzy Viegas, along with Benaulim Dy Sarpanch Nilesh Prabhudesai, besides a few other panch members deliberated on the issue with the Revenue Minister.
In the petition, villagers had urged the High Court to restrain the authorities from discharging the treated sewage water from the Colva STP into River Sal, besides seeking alternative uses for the treated water generated from the STP. Villagers are not against the project but are concerned that the treated water from STP will be discharged into the River, which is already polluted.
It was a fine example of people over political parties. Congress leader and activist and the local MLA from AAP and the sarpanch along with people were on the same page. We are here to stop laying of sewerage pipelines through Benaulim where the sewage will be dumped in the Sal.
“The stop-work order our panchayat issued to the Sewerage corporation was in people’s interest and on people’s will,” said Vencilla Fernandes, Cana- Benaulim Sarpanch, whose political leanings are neither with the Congress nor AAP.
The MLA too echoes this. “Our sole intention is that the treated sewage water should not go into the river. The entire model of the project can be redesigned, by ensuring that the public money that has been already used is not gone to waste,” MLA Capt Viegas said.
The delegation also brought to the notice of the Minister that the order issued by the District Collector clearly mentions that permission is required before carrying out the works. They explained that the panchayat, being a local body, had already denied the permissions to the Sewage Department.
The panchayat had issued a fresh stop-work notice by taking legal advice, and not a layman’s advice, and hence there is legal standing. The concerned authority should have come back and replied to the notice, panchayat members said clarifying their stand before the Minister. Monserrate expressed interest in resolving the issue.
Earlier, the court had also directed the interveners not to go directly to the site and stop the ongoing work.
Villagers still hope for a solution to the matter. And all of them as one are using all possible fair means, to bring about a solution under law.
