Team Herald
MARGAO: The meeting called by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar to discuss the Western bypass project on Friday ended inconclusive.
Several NGOs, villagers, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva, Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, and Nuvem MLA Mickky Pacheco attended the meeting, where a presentation on the Western bypass project report given to the people.
Parsekar was furious at the reluctance of the people to listen to the PWD Minister and the engineers during the meeting. He said, “The road has been properly planned and passed subsequently. From the questions of the people, it looks like they have only come to oppose and not observe the plans of the highway works and get their queries solved.”
Speaking at the meeting, MLA Silva said, “I have placed my demands before the Chief Minister and I believe it will be fulfilled. I request the government not to put people in trouble for saving Rs 300 crore.”
MLA Pacheco said, “The government and the executive authority has to publish the feasibility report of the entire stretch of problem area, and until that time, I will oppose the road.”
MLA Sardesai stated that the meeting had been held “a little too late”. He said, “This presentation had to be held at the design and conceptualisation stage. Now it is too little and too late.”
Meanwhile, Jose Roque Andrade from Nuvem, stated, “The catchment areas and the stormwater that is collected in the low-lying fields will find no place to go, resulting in flooding. The road, which was initially narrow, has been made into a huge 80-meter road.”
The villagers at the presentation also asked for the feasibility report and environment impact assessment report, which the engineers said had not been made.
