MARGAO: On World Wetlands Day, Benaulim locals took a dig at the authorities for the destruction and filling of wetlands in the village, under the guise of ‘development’.
“While World Wetlands Day celebrations are on, it is ‘fill the land day in reality’. Benaulim is witnessing these celebrations as well, by having its fields trampled by earth moving machinery, and mother
earth ripped open by excavators,” remarked former Benaulim Sarpanch, architect Royla Fernandes.
It may be recalled there was anger amongst residents over the dumping of rubble in the low-lying fields where the Western Bypass is being constructed. Complaints in this regard have already been sent to the panchayat.
Fernandes also questioned why the Benaulim panchayat is yet to implement the plans it had drawn up as per the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in a bid to preserve the natural environment of the village.
She also inquired about the pancahayat’s plan to file a petition in court on the Western Bypass on stilts issue.
It may be recalled that the villagers of Benaulim have been agitating against the proposal of the government to construct the bypass in Benaulim on embankments, which would damage the rich biodiversity of the area, and also pose a flooding hazard.
