MARGAO: Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas on Wednesday said he would discuss the Western Bypass issue with Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and will try to get the work stopped till the residents approach the High Court yet again. He was speaking to media persons after the meeting with the Benaulim Zilla Panchayat (ZP) member Hansel Fernandes, panchas and the contractor. The meeting was called to discuss the future course of action after the locals on Tuesday led by Fernandes stopped the bypass work. After going through the western bypass map they raised concerns over the potential destruction with regards to the filling of low-lying areas as the contractor stated that the work is has been carried out following the requisite permissions. There was no immediate solution agreed upon at the meeting but the MLA agreed to take up the matter before the Chief Minister. Viegas said, “As of now, our main objective is to try and get this work stopped until we approach the High Court again. As per the statement given by the court, they (the contractor) can continue the work as per the National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines”. “However, we do not accept the logic that only three to four small portions will get affected. This will have long-term consequences where the water bodies, the fields and the area will be destroyed. We have to look at what is called hundred-year flooding and not just what will happen now,” he said.
