MARGAO: The land-filling work for the western bypass will begin only after the desilting of River Sal has been completed.
A decision in this regard was taken at a recent meeting at the District Collectorate, which was attended by PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, PWD Principal Chief Engineer D G S Borkar and MLAs Avertano Furtado, Mickky Pacheco, Vijai Sardesai and Caitu Silva. At the meeting, it was suggested that the land filling work for the western bypass should begin only after the desilting of River Sal was completed. The proposal was accepted by Dhavalikar.
The issues raised by the public regarding the 12-km bypass route covering the four constituencies of Navelim, Nuvem, Fatorda and Benaulim were discussed and solutions sought.
Dhavalikar said that the demands placed by the MLAs on behalf of their respective constituents would be sent to Delhi after preparing the revised estimates, which would then be placed before Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for sanctions.
He elaborated that the MLAs were apprehensive that the bypass would result in large-scale flooding of the villages and the land-filling in the catchment areas would increase flooding.
However, Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva insisted on the construction of the bypass on stilts along the stretch passing through Benaulim.
To this, Dhavalikar pointed out that the demand for a flyover would increase the project cost by Rs 450 crore and that he could not give an assurance without getting the Centre’s approval.
“The PWD may give assurances and promises, but we know the ground reality during the monsoons. It is a fact that vast tracts of area in Benaulim will be submerged once land filling is done at the catchment area,” said Silva, who threatened to call a meeting of Benaulikars if the government attempted to push the project with earthen embankments.
