Joseph Lewis D’Silva
Some years ago, when Goa was under the Portuguese rule, our roads were very narrow. Now our narrow roads have fatal road accidents and are unable to hold the vehicle explosion.
Oh what a dream sir! We are happy that broad-minded, forward-looking team of the government are widening our death-trap roads and are determination to put them on the Guinness’ book of world record by widening them as wide as football ground. I thank our administration for their decision to transform our highways into “broad-safe-roads”– a protection both for our motorists and pedestrians, with no more major accidents; and safe for Johnny Walkers to freely stroll on our motorways with no risk to their limb or life any more.
I am full of admiration for our government for the intention of widening our roads. It is said, “Now or never; better late than never.” Therefore, may I ask our dedicated administration for a very tiny modification of the present plan?
A little diversion of highways, far from residential area into the unpopulated spots over hills and through fields connected to it by service roads on both sides to existing residential areas. Such far-flung road would be better to hold the present and the future population explosion and sudden vehicle multiplication. The far-flung road there would give ample space to widen it further at future time when required.
If this is NOT done, a few years later, those whose houses have escaped the axe of demolition at present, will face the same problem of widening the road; and this trouble will be periodically recurring with the steady increase of vehicles and population explosion, till the whole village will have to be moved to the hills in the company of the birds and the bees. Good road, network, is key to the growth of the nation, provided it is designed and implemented correctly without harming innocent individuals.
I ask for such modifications for the following reasons: First of all, these wide highways will dwarf the tiny strength of the Goan villages and the very essence of the Goan rural community will be lost. Secondly, everything, lawfully built — new flats or ancestral houses that obstruct the widening of the road will be raised to the ground and the victims will be thrown on the street without a roof over their head to stand and stare there like sheep and cows. Lastly, they may be given some compensation in cash which may be so meager that they may not be able to build similar shelter with it or may be given unsuitable accommodation forcing them to quietly go and sleep there like Rip Van Winkle on the mountains cut off from the village roots.
Good governance does not mean throwing some innocent people on the streets on the principle — a little evil for a greater good — because the end does not justify the means.
