Team Herald
MARGAO: Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao said the panchayats of Benaulim and Seraulim will move the courts to get a clarification on the order passed with regards to the Western Bypass and asserted that undertaking the work before desilting River Sal would be disastrous.
Briefing media persons, he clarified that he is not opposed to development but asserted that it should be done properly and said if necessary he would even lead an agitation over the construction of the western bypass without desilting River Sal first.
He agreed that bridge on stilts was not necessarily the solution given the fact that the river is silted and is not able to discharge the water due to which water is returning to the ponds. He reminded that earlier he had cautioned against constructing the road underpass near Damodar College which is now perpetually under water during the monsoons.
He admitted that the authorities have said building road on stilts is not possible except for a small stretch near the Kale property in Benaulim which then chief minister Manohar Parrikar had agreed to.
Churchill further asked the government to get funds from Centre to desilt River Sal as following nationalisation of rivers Captain of Ports Goa is empowered to represent Goa on this matter. “The Centre has sufficient funds under nationalisation of river and these funds should be utilised now,” he said.
Replying to a question he said, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has agreed to desilt River Sal and that he would get Central funds so that the work is completed before the next monsoons commence.
ZP Elections: Churchill said the Nationalist Congress Party will field candidates at the ensuing Zilla Panchayat polls which are now being contested on party lines.
Jack Sequeira: Refusing to comment on the controversy over installation of Dr Jack Sequeira’s statue at Fatorda, Churchill said he will install Dr Jack Sequeira’s statue at Khareband. “The panchayat has already adopted a resolution and nobody will stop me from installing the statue there,” he said.
