MARGAO: The agitation against the Western Bypass land filling intensified on Saturday, as people including farmers from Benaulim, Seraulim, besides Navelim, Colva held a protest and demanded that the stretch from Seraulim to Varca be built on stilts.
On the other hand, the contractor appointed by the Public Works Department was seen filling the low lying areas and water bodies with a mud, which can lead to major flooding during the coming monsoon, and cause major destruction to the environment.
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On Saturday nearly hundred of citizens, including few environmentalists and social workers, besides Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, and AAP leader Adv. Amit Palekar protested against the ongoing work of land filling.
People said that the government is destroying the environment and future of the next generation only to save the Rs. 170 crore, which is an extra amount which will be incurred if this stretch of Western Bypass is built on stilts.
Speaking to media persons, MLA Venzy Viegas expressed his disappointment with the PWD for carrying out the work on the weekend, and not giving fair opportunity to the people to approach the court.
“The work to fill the water bodies and agricultural fields has commenced over here, in order to continue with the ongoing work of constructing Western Bypass. Farmers have cultivated their fields”, he stated. Venzy further said that the entire plan of Western Bypass over here has been mismanaged.
“The concerned department should have taken into consideration the hundred year floods. When we are doing anything we should keep in mind the future generation, but there was no proper thinking on this matter pertaining to Western Bypass project”, said Venzy. He also said that there was no political will in the past with regard to the same.
“It seems that water bodies and fields will be under the mud by the time we approach the court. We have plans to appeal before the Supreme Court, but we are expecting that the petitioner who has filed a case before the National Green Tribunal will first take up this issue”, said Venzy.
The MLA also declared his support to petitioner Royla Fernandes, and said he is helpless. “At the moment we can witness destruction of the environment in the name of development, and hence the High Court should have shown some courtesy to look into the matter in order to find out the ground reality”, he added.
Adv. Amit Palekar said it is not too late to agitate for demanding the western bypass project on stilts. “The project was delayed because of the government and in order to cover up, they engaged in destroying the environment. Taking into consideration the entire alignment it looks like it has been done to save some private interests earlier. Doing work on the weekend is something unfortunate”, he stated.
Amit further said the government should have been pro-people, as the destruction to the environment, besides water bodies and agricultural fields should have been avoided. Amit also expressed hope to change the scenario of Western Bypass project.
