Goemkarponn desk
BENAULIM: Royala Fernandes, former Sarpanch of Village Panchayat Benaulim said, “We fear the entire Tolleband wetland will be mud filled by the time Panchayat takes sought solution, take action and approach the suitable court with its petition to build Western bypass on stilts”.
Fernandes was speaking to Goemkarponn after special cognizance meeting of local body, Western Bypass committee and affected farmers that was held at VP Benaulim on Friday.
Informing that their lawyer has asked for a week’s time for him to take final decision on the matter, VP Benaulim Sarpanch Xavier Pereira told the media person that decision to move to the High Court will be taken after they receive a final call from lawyer.
Adding to this Fernandes said, “The work of mud filling of Tolleband wetland has almost marked its completion. Delay-delay tactic and lethargy of VP in approaching the judiciary to seek the legal action will mud fill the entire stretch”.
Adding she said, “Neither the plea of villagers to build the Western bypass on stilts is new nor the elected VP Sarpanch is new to this system. The delaying tactic to approach the judiciary for taking a legal action despite of being well aware about the urgency raises multiple questions including whether the petition to build it on stilts is delayed to fulfill ones vested interest? “, she added.
Alleging that the government is doing eye wash by notifying the wetlands, Fernandes said the government would have never thought of mud filling this wetland if it was really firm about its intention of protecting the wetland and environment.
Sarpanch Pereira also informed that the panel has decided to seek intervention from former Chief Minister and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat to save Benaulim and the town from flooding in near future.
It can be recalled that the beleaguered farmers of Benaulim on Wednesday had marched to Panchayat to sought an answer about progress done by VP in support of construction of the Western bypass on stilts.
