Land acquisition heading for roadblock at Curchorem
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
QUEPEM, JULY 6
Residents of Tilamol, Cacora, Curchorem and Bansai are gearing up to oppose the proposed land acquisition for widening the road from Tilamol to Curchorem.
It may be recalled that the government on July 1 issued a notification under Section 4 of Land Acquisition Act to acquire land to construct the road, a four lane, from Tilamol to Curchorem and Quepem Deputy Collector Agnel Fernandes was appointed land acquisition officer.
The residents on Sunday convened a meeting at Bansai to oppose the land acquisition and make the people aware about its effect on the people residing alongside the road. The villagers had come under the banner ‘Ganv Rakhonn Jagrut Manch’, which was attended by over 500 villagers.
Addressing the residents, Babu Prabhu Dessai said if the road is for the benefit of the local people, then the people will demolish their houses themselves, but if the proposed acquisition is for the benefit of the mining lobby, then they will not allow the acquisition.
“The plan showing the land to be acquired for road widening is drawn on a survey plan, which is not being updated for years. If the physical survey of it is carried out, then several houses will be demolished to make way for the road widening,” he claimed.
Adv Mahesh Kakodkar questioned government’s intention in the matter. He said the present road is enough for the normal traffic and widening is not required by demolishing houses of hundreds of people for no proper reason, unless the government has some hidden motive behind this move.
Christanand Pednekar said recently there have been numerous accidents due to mining transport and if widening becomes a reality, then people will have to walk with their coffin in their hands expecting death any moment.
“A four-lane road is not required for the normal traffic, as the present road is adequate,” he added and called upon the people to oppose the proposed road widening with all their might.
Soccorina Goes said people have been asking for a by-pass road for so long for mining activity which the authorities had promised, but now it is evident that they were fooling the public.
“I am confident that this widening is done to enable the mining lobby to transport ore and not in the interest of the people,” she alleged.
“People will not take things lying down, but will agitate with all their might to stop this double intentional move of the government,” warned Goes.
Mafaldo Fernandes said the government should forget about the road widening and take up the by-pass road work, if they want peace in the region.
“We will never let the mining lobby succeed in this move of road widening,” warned Fernandes.
Curchorem BJP President Pradeep Naik, Vinod Velgaonkar and Rajendra Kakodkar also spoke at the meeting.
Villagers have decided to meet Quepem Deputy Collector Agnelo Fernandes, who was appointed acquisition officer, and submit their grievances. They also decided to meet Chief Minister Digambar Kamat over the issue.
The villagers warned that if their demands are not met by the elected representatives, then they would knock the doors of the court.
