Team Herald
MARGAO: Sinquetim and Benaulim villagers demanded that the ongoing work of the Sinquetim bridge immediately stopped even as the PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral sought time to make a final decision.
Upon the request of the villagers, Cabral on Monday visited the site along with the officials of PWD, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar, former MLA Avertano Furtado and others. A large number of villagers gathered at the site and expressed their objections to the bridge.
As per the apprehensions of the villagers, the bridge with 12 metres width and approach road of just 3 metres is justified and the government would acquire more land for the widening of the road in near future. Villagers from both the villages in their one voice said that they don’t want the bridge as it would not benefit them but would rather create traffic chaos and confusion in the villages.
Villagers demanded the Minister immediately stop the ongoing work of the incomplete Sinquetim Bridge for which the PWD Minister expressed his helplessness. Local leaders have now
decided to meet Chief
Minister Pramod Sawant on the issue.
Speaking to reporters after the lengthy discussion with the villagers, Cabral said that he needed at least two days to go through the documents since the start of the process to make the final decision.
“There was an allegation from the people that the bridge alignment has been changed, and hence I have asked officials to produce all the files since a process is being started to verify the same. The second issue with regard to the affidavit filed by the department before the National Green Tribunal,” he informed.
He said the other contention is about land acquisition and compensation, and it will be sorted out at the earliest, if the claims are found to be true.
“I cannot comment on the demand of the people that they want to scrap the bridge. The decision on this will be taken once the other issues are examined in depth. I will deliberate on the issue with the Chief Minister,” Cabral stated.
The Minister refused to comment on the demand to stop the ongoing work of the bridge.
Local leader George Barreto, who was also a petitioner in the NGT, alleged that the officials of the PWD had misguided the minister on the issue.
“Being a petitioner the department should have informed me about starting the pending work of the bridge, which they failed to do. We don’t understand why few political leaders are in favour of the bridge by destroying the houses of the residents,” he stated.
He said hundred people from Singuetim and Benaulim have expressed their objections to the bridge.
“This bridge was once scrapped by the then Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar. Earlier this bridge was proposed for only
two wheelers and now plans are seen changed,”
he alleged.
