NT NETWORK
MARGAO
PWD Minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar has said that people of Mungul in Margao will be taken into confidence on construction of western bypass road and it will be competed within next two years.
After inspecting the paddy fields, along with 50-odd Mungul villagers who fear that the nearby fields will flood during the monsoon if the road is built, Dhavalikar said, “I assure you that the PWD will take you all into confidence and would see to it that there would be no flooding in the area. Your MLA Vijai Sardesai had placed your demands before me and therefore I came here along with engineers and other officials to personally inspect the site.”
Dhavalikar said the mud-filling work will continue in the low-lying areas in next two months so that during the month of June the department would get a clear picture of water accumulation in the area adding, “We will study the low-lying areas on case-to-case basis and would make necessary arrangement to resolve the locals problems.’’
Taking potshots at the erstwhile Congress government for alleged delay in western bypass road despite land being acquired for the same, Dhavalikar said that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government has done more development works in Salcete than the erstwhile government.
“PWD has issued work orders to Ahmadabad-based contractor for Rs 280 crore and the works will be completed within next two years. I appeal the people to cooperate with us. There is a need of 24 lakh cubic metres of mud for the western bypass road. If we use iron slag mix with mud, there will be no impact on environment,” he said.
The Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, who urged Dhavalikar to take up the road works from Arlem to Ravindra Bhavan, said he requested the minister to meet the people of Mungul to allay their fears of their paddy fields getting flooded. Margao Municipal Council chairperson Dr Babita Prabhudesai and local councillors were also present at the site during the inspection.
Meanwhile, in order to find the truth on the allegation that few officials of the sewerage department releasing raw sewage into the River Sal, Dhavalikar on Wednesday directed the senior engineers to investigate and file a report to him.