Team Herald
MARGAO: At a meeting that was held at the office of the Water Resources Department (WRD), the Benaulim village committee along with the local MLA Venzy Viegas, pointed out that the technical reports that has been submitted by the department were flawed and has thereby portrayed an incorrect picture of the situation in Benaulim when it comes to the catchment area of the village and the amount of rainfall it receives.
They further explained that on the basis of these technical reports, the State government and the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) expert committee had drawn the conclusion that the western bypass passing through Benaulim doesn’t need to be built on stilts but can be be built on embankments. They added that had the right reports been submitted, it would have been clear that the area in Benaulim through the western bypass will pass though, would get flooded, if it’s built on embankments and not stilts.
The village committee, which comprises of of panch members and concerned locals, along with the MLA questioned WRD Executive Engineer Ankush Gaonkar about the methodology that was used by the department for these reports.
MLA Viegas also pointed out that the WRD technical report has stated that the catchment area is 55 sq km, when in reality it is far, far bigger.
After the EE explained that contour maps were used, he agreed that there could be scope for error and that the villagers could submit the report they are preparing via an expert consultant, to cross check these figures.
The MLA also referred to the technical report stating that the average intensity of rainfall in Benaulim, is 10 mm/hour but that similar reports of WRD say that it’s 12 mm/hour. The MLA said that such contradictory reports indicate that there is an error and that there needs to be a resurvey of the same.
Benaulim village committee members also pointed out that the WRD report has not taken into account the ‘tidal back flush’, which raises the amount of water stored on the catchment area. They also added after the height of a road in Benaulim was recently raised for beautification work, the areas around this road were flooded and that excess rainwater had already the premises of a school in the vicinity.
While the Engineer said that this matter is best taken up with the higher authority, he added that in his first report, he had suggested that the highway (bypass) be built on stilts in Benaulim to avoid flooding.
