Team Herald
MARGAO: Day after Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant assured in the Assembly of building 2.1 km of remaining western bypass road on stilts, filling of low lying areas and cultivated paddy fields continues, on Thursday.
However, people of Benaulim still hold high hopes that the government will consider their demand to build a full stretch of 2.75 km on stilts, as they offered a Holy Mass at Our Lady of Patrocin Chapel.
On the other hand, local MLA Venzy Viegas met several farmers whose paddy fields have been destroyed by dumping the mud, and assured them of help. At the same time one farmer from Pedd-Benaulim has alleged that the PWD has encroached in his fields without consent.
“Earlier, the concerned department had omitted land, and had given me written assurance. However, now I have noticed that they have encroached on my land and land filling is going on a large scale,” said the farmer.
At 7.30 am several people, including farmers offered the Holy Mass praying for 2.75 kilometres western bypass road on stilts.
Speaking to media, Royla Fernandes, petitioner before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) said the land filling is still going on, despite the Chief Minister’s assurance.
“I have faith in the government that the entire 2. 75 kilometres of stretch of western bypass road will be built on stilts. Yes, land filling is continued, and hopes that it is to take the machineries. The final order from the NGT is still not pronounced, but the proposal given is stressed on stilts,” said Fernandes.
