MARGAO: Minister for Public Works Department Deepak Pauskar may have assured to build the portion of controversial western bypass from Mungul to Comba on stilts, but that’s not the final solution to protect the environment.
And hence the children and people of Benaulim, besides Seraulim have decided to continue with the agitation.
Children of Benaulim want the full portion from Seraulim to Varca on stilts, and this is the only option to protect the environment and livelihood of the farmers, besides destruction from flooding.
On Thursday, the matter before the High Court with regard to resuming of the pending western bypass road could not be heard and now it has been adjourned for Monday. The petition before the National Green Tribunal filed by Royla Fernandes will come up for the hearing on December 12.
It is pertinent to note that recently the PWD Minister along with Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai had visited the site at Mungul, wherein the Minister had assured to build the portion of western bypass from Mungul to Comba on stilts. He had also stated that the remaining portion will be constructed according to the old plan.
However, Benaulim locals and the petitioner Royla have taken strong objections to the assurance given by the Minister, and said that they will continue with the agitation till the full portion that is from Seraulim to Varca is built on stilts.
“We and the PWD Minister should keep in mind that it is only because of the PWD that people were forced to knock on the doors of NGT. Second thing is that the case hearings in the High Court is only pertaining to resuming of the pending western bypass works and not related to the apprehensions of destruction to environment and ecology,” she stated.
She further said we had several meetings and protests but the PWD Minister never took interest in hearing the grievances related to environment and flooding, if the western bypass is built by filling the fields and lower lying areas.
“Even the survey reports of Water Resources, Town and Country Planning, Agriculture Department had expressed fear of floods and destruction to the environment if the road is not constructed on stilts, but it was only the PWD who failed to do proper survey taking into the consideration the ground reality”, said Royla.
She said it is because of the agitation and protest that the Minister has agreed to build the portion of Mungul to Comba on stilts; otherwise he was not interested at all.
“The concern of the PWD is only with regard to the cost and not of the environment and impacts of western bypass if not built on stilts. Actually, Pauskar should have visited the site at the time of monsoon, wherein several people had witnessed flooding of agricultural fields and even houses,” said Royla.
