Highway meet at Margao today, Churchill cries foul
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, NOV 21
Even as the National Highway Diversion Committee is gearing up to hold its first meeting at the Lohia Maidan on Monday, Public Works Development (PWD) Minister, Churchill Alemao on Sunday said the government would compensate the land losers with market rate and will start the highway project only after the rehabilitation of the displaced people.
Alemao, however, did not spare the non-governmental (NGOs) as he lashed out at them for poking their fingers everywhere by opposing the government’s developmental projects.
The PWD minister took the platform of the inauguration of the Dr Francis Luis Gomes district library in the city here to touch on the controversy surrounding the highway project, as churches across Salcete on Sunday made announcements on Monday’s public meeting at the Lohia Maidan organized by the diversion committee.
Alemao said the government is committed to expedite work on the NH-17 and raised apprehensions that the Zuari bridge will collapse within six years if a new bridge is not put in place within the time frame.
Indicating that the government is also committed to save the houses of the people affected by the highway expansion project, Alemao said the government has reduced the number of houses listed for demolition from 569 to 130. “Even if 100 houses finally face the axe, the government would compensate the affected people at the market rate”, he said, adding that the government should first rehabilitate the displaced people and the proceed with the project.
Incidentally, Alemao said he was the lone person who had opposed the expressway when other MLAs and political leaders were silent on the project. “I understand the sentiments of the people. That’s the reason I and Chief Minister Digambar Kamat impressed upon Union Minister for Surface Transport Kamal Nath to reduce the width of the highway to 45 meters and 35 meters to save houses and other structures”, he added.
Residents of Nuvem, Verna have come out openly against the national highway passing through River Sal and other water bodies. They have warned the government to do a rethink on the highway passing through the water bodies or face their wrath.
