MARGAO: In a statement issued on Tuesday, Benaulim Sarpanch Ezlina Fernandes has denied that the plan for Western Bypass has been finalised or that the panchayat had agreed to box culverts as was reported in the media.
Along with her panchayat members, she said she was present on December 10, for the inspection and asserted that they had asked the PWD Minister to reconsider constructing the road in Benaulim section of the bypass on stilts.
“We have not agreed to box culverts in the area,” she said, while pointing out that no senior citizen from Benaulim was present for the inspection in view of the report stating that senior citizens had also agreed to the box culverts. “We want the road to be built on stilts to avoid environmental degradation and prevent flooding,” she said.
While referring to this statement, AAP, said it exposed Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, who had earlier claimed that the bypass had been finalised and that the panchayat had agreed to box culverts.
