Team Herald
MARGAO: Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai has informed the villagers of Chandor and Guirdolim that he has initiated action against Chief Town Planner (CTP) Dr S T Puttaraju. The TCP Minister said he will also write to the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and if necessary would arrange a meeting with him regarding the State Highway No 8 passing through their village.
Around 50 villagers had gathered at the Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex on Thursday morning holding Regional Plan of various villages showing where the State Highway No 8 was earmarked. In the Regional Plan, the highway was not shown in Chandor but in the villages of Sao Jose de Areal, Paroda, Quepem, Xeldem and Curchorem.
During his meeting with the villagers, Sardesai saw the maps and after confirming the signature on the maps he spoke to the Chief Minister via telephone informing him on the evidence brought by the locals. “The Chief Town Planner is already asked to give an explanation for his letter,” he said.
It may be recalled that vide a letter dated June 1, 2017 Dr Puttaraju had informed the Public Works Department (PWD) that the State Highway was shown passing from Sao Jose de Areal to Chandor and then to Curchorem as per the Regional Plan.
“I am with you but we have to provide an alternate route if not through your village,” he said to which the villagers pointed out that the alternate route was already shown in the Regional Plan.
Chandor-Cavorim Sarpanch Celina Furtado, Deputy Sarpanch Mafaldina Martins, panchas Edward D’Silva and Derick Braganza Pereira, former sarpanchas of Guirdolim Agostinho Antao and Sonia Dias and Domnick Mendes the co-convenor of the Concerned Villagers Group were present.
