NH 17 alignment: activists to move court
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JAN 25
Protesting against state government’s move to go ahead with the public hearings on current alignment for highway expansion, the activists have now decided to file a Writ Petition in the high court seeking judicial redressal.
National Highway Diversion Action Committee (NHDAC) today said that they will plead with the High court that state government be asked to stop the highway expansion as per current alignment.
“We will file writ petition in the high court demanding to bring stay on the current alignment for the highway expansion,” NHDAC convenor Sunil Desai told reporters today evening.
Desai stressed that they are not against the national highway expansion but they want that the alignment should be changed. “Highway should be not at the cost of villages,” he stated.
The committee informed that the government has already begun the public hearing over the alignment of NH17 expansion, in North Goa, which has been objected by people.
“Government cannot force their wishes on us. They had told the committee earlier that they will opt for fresh alignment,” Desai said.
Desai said that inspite of oppose, the section 3 (D) of National Highways act to acquire the land required for the expansion has been notified in the government gadget on November 29, 2010.
NHDAC has an objection to the alignment of NH 17 has organized a massive convention at Mapusa on January 28, which will be attended by prominent people like Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar, Francis D’Souza, Dayanand Mandrekar, Matanhy Saldanha and Christopher Fonseca.
“We may also plan certain activities during the state assembly session beginning from January 31,” he added.
The action committee pointed out that former chief minister Pratapsingh Rane had worked out a highway plan for Goa which was bypassing villages. “Government should think of a highway on those lines as it will not disturb any human settlement,” Desai said.
The committee also said that government should consider the suggestions made in Regional Plan 2021 as regards with highway expansion.
National Highway Authority of India has planned to expand existing highway under the centrally sponsor scheme. Goa government has already initiated land acquisition proceedings for this highway.
However, since long, NHDAC has been demanding changes in the current alignment of the national highway expansion, which is crossing through the urban area.
The committee has also raised objection to the government move of imposing toll fee. “Why we need to pay toll when we already pay road tax?” questioned Mohmmad Khan, Mapusa.
