PORVORIM, MAY 28
The National Highway-17 Porvorim Action Committee has decided to oppose tooth and nail the proposed widening of NH-17 passing through Porvorim to 45 mts.
Speaking to Herald, convenor of NH-17 Porvorim Action Committee and former Aldona MLA Fatima D’Sa said existing Mandovi bridges are unable to cope up with vehicular traffic.
“During peak hours, huge queues of vehicles are seen almost every day on both the bridges. Under the circumstance, how government can think of widening the existing NH-17 passing through Mapusa-Porvorim to 45 mts and pass the bill to this effect in the Assembly without consulting the people,” asked D’Sa.
“As per the notification issued in 2008, the National Highway Authority of India and consultant Wilbur Smith Associates had recommended a bypass from Green Park Hotel near Mapusa to Panjim via Socorro, Britona through the fields,” she added.
“This bypass would have affected only 43 structures. The proposed widening of road through Porvorim as per the land acquisition notification released by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will lead to demolition of over 380 structures which includes commercial establishments, hospitals, heritage houses, churches, temples, etc,” said D’Sa.
“The action committee has decided to meet Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, local MLA Dayanand Narvekar and North Goa MP Shripad Naik and register our protest against proposed widening of road from Mapusa to Porvorim to 45 mts. The committee will not mind resorting to a road blockade agitation if the government does not change its decision,” said D’Sa.
Chodankar Hospital Director Dr Ravindra Chodankar said part of his hospital and Goa Scan Centre will have to be demolished, if the road is widened to 45 mts as per the notification.
“As it is, residents of Porvorim are facing a lot of problems like water scarcity, power fluctuations and sewerage and instead of solving these problems, the government is thinking of multiplying their problems,” said Dr Chodankar.
“PWD Minister Churchill Alemao during the meeting with residents of Porvorim about 8 months ago had agreed to maintain the existing Mapusa-Porvorim road and carry out widening of the road wherever possible without demolition of structures,” added Dr Chodankar.
He further said the Wilbur Smith Associates, who has been appointed by the government of India to carry out feasibility-cum-preliminary design for 4/6 laning of NH-17 has recommended widening of the road in Chinchinim village to 35 mts only.
“If this can be done, then why government cannot restrict widening of road passing through Porvorim to only 35 mts,” questioned Dr Chodankar.
Dr Chodankar further said demolition of business establishments and the hospital would lead to massive unemployment.
“In my hospital, about 50 people are working. If part of my hospital is demolished, I will be forced to retrench the staff. My hospital is serving people of Goa since 1984. It is the government-recognized hospital and during the course of last 25 years, over 15,000 deliveries have taken place in the hospital,” he said.
“The government has already diverted widening of road in Agassaim to prevent demolition of houses, then why government cannot do the same at Porvorim? If the government had intention to widen the road then why panchayats have not been informed about it,” asked Dr Chodankar.
“Panchayats have given permissions to new buildings alongside NH-17. If the existing age-old structures are demolished, then there will be loss of several crores of rupees and it will create unemployment. We will not allow this to happen at any cost,” he stated.
