MARGAO: A group of residents and farmers from Benaulim have expressed fears of agricultural fields, and nearby area flooding this monsoon. They visited the site of ongoing works pertaining to western bypass and expressed these fears.
They are of the opinion that there is still time for the government to re-think on its decision and build the western bypass on stilts to avoid flooding.
It may be recalled that last monsoon, several residents and farmers had held a protest at the site wherein flooding was witnessed due to the filling of land for the western bypass project.
Demand for western bypass on stilts has been
discussed for a very long time, but the government is yet to decide on the issue. Citizens have apprehension that the solution of culverts will not be able to control the flooding and it will result in major damage.
“The damage has been done to a large extent over here. 90 percent agricultural land and low lying areas have been filled with mud to build the western bypass. Monsoon is yet to start and we are very much sure that in this monsoon too, the whole area over here will get flooded”, Pele Fernandes said.
He said that the government needs to show some concern to save agricultural land from the damage
by floods. Residents feel
that flooding during the monsoon will not only
affect Benaulim but also surrounding areas.
Rosario Fernandes, another citizen of Benaulim requested the Chief Minister
of Goa to look into the matter seriously.
“We will be in big trouble if the area is flooded in the monsoon. Several farmers will suffer heavy losses as they will be unable to bear the damage to their paddy fields,” he stated.
