MARGAO: Locals are confused over fate of Western Bypass project since there hasn’t been any hearing at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on the project in recent days.
People and the student community from Benaulim demanding the construction of Western Bypass on stilts are waiting for another order from the NGT which will save the environment and their future.
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Locals affected by the project said NGT has not taken up the issue for the hearing since last several days. The case assumes significance in view of the proposed plan prepared by the Public Works Department, finalised after deliberations by a 10-member committee.
It may be recalled that before the elections, when PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar visited the site, he had assured that the Western Bypass stretch from Mungul to Comba, Margao would be built on stilts and the mud dumped in low lying area at the site would be removed, besides other preventive measures to avoid flooding during monsoon.
However, now there are only three months left for the arrival of monsoon and there is no sign of these works at Mungul, the locals said.
Locals, who will be affected by the Western Bypass, especially those from Mungul, besides Seraulim say their fields will submerge under the water during rains if the dumped mud is not removed before the arrival of monsoon.
“It seems that major flooding will be witnessed this monsoon, as the entire process is going on at a snail’s pace. Mud has been dumped at the major portion of low lying area at the side of River Sal, besides few structures have been built for the sake of keeping materials and rest room for labourers.
The mud dumped at the site is just for the purpose of moving the machinery and soil testing,” said Peter Fernandes from Seraulim.
He further said that the PWD minister and the contractor had assured the people that the mud would be removed once the work is completed and they would take precautions to avoid flooding. But according to them, the promises are yet to be fulfilled.
