MARGAO: Benaulim’s special gram sabha rejected the proposed box culverts along the Western Bypass and reiterated its demand for a flyover.
It was decided to meet all 40 MLAs to seek their support to avoid the environmental disaster in the village.
Sarpanch Ezlina Fernandes provided the status report wherein she pointed out that a joint inspection was held following which PWD revised its plans and arranged for box culverts instead of a flyover.
She disclosed that Benaulim and Seraulim villagers are opposed to this and insist on having a flyover as in the developmental plan the area is already marked as flood affected area. A villager pointed out that the roads were not flooded this year because PWD had built high retaining walls to prevent the water from entering the road.
However, they pointed out that water had reached the houses in other places and further argued that the box culverts would result in increased traffic accidents.
All the eight panchas supported the people’s demand for a flyover and the gram sabha adopted a supplementary budget to provide for legal expenses in case they have to go to court over the matter.
The meet resolved that henceforth all development works would be first discussed at the gram sabha and then adopted by the panchayat. It objected to the revised drawings not having any underpass for the arterial roads.
