Team Herald
MARGAO: The 10-member committee constituted to study the matter pertaining to the Western Bypass stretch from Seraulim to Varca looks like planning to fail the environment and lives of the people, alleged petitioner Royla Fernandes, as the first meeting of the committee was held on Friday at Margao.
Royla Fernandes holds the power-point presentation at the meeting highlighting the problems caused due to the flooding from Seraulim to Varca. District Collector Ruchika Katyal, along with senior environment engineer Sanjeev Joglekar and other members of all concerned authorities, attended the meeting.
Speaking to the media after the meeting Royla expressed frustration about the seriousness of the committee members towards the issue.
“The committee members are of the opinion that they did not require to come at the site to study the matter at the time of flooding, which is not acceptable. The way they are going on it looks like they are planning to fail the environment and lives of the people,” alleged Fernandes.
This was the first meeting being conducted after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) passed an order in the month of June. “After two months of time, the meeting has been held that too after pleading before the concerned authorities. I had requested to hold the power-point presentation. Actually, we had planned to march to the office of the Goa State Pollution Control Board along with the students of Benaulim in order to expedite the matter. For the two months there was no action taken,” said Fernandes.
She further added that people wanted the committee members to come and see the actual flooding because there was flooding in this monsoon at Mungul, Seraulim, and all other places.
“The committee members have stated that local MLA Churchill Alemao had informed them that there was no flooding after the dredging of the River Sal, which was totally false. I brought to the notice of the committee that MLA is on the record on the floor of the house that western bypass from Seraulim to Varca to be built on stilts,”said Fernandes.
