CANACONA: Locals from Canacona have come out strongly against the proposed NH66 road widening, which involves axing of thousands of trees and instead are suggesting a tunnel which in the long run be beneficial not only environmentally but economically also they say.
15,000 trees on Karmalghat section will be axed for this project. With a multiple increase in motor vehicular traffic on the NH66 passing through Goa the National Highway authorities are in different stages of converting the present two lanes into four lanes.
It may be recalled that ‘Goenkar’ a Canacona based NGO had knocked the doors of judiciary a couple of months back.
The Goa bench of Bombay High Court, while disposing of the petition filed by NGO-Goenkar, have directed the respondents to inform in writing to the petitioner their decision on grant or rejection of the application for tree cutting as well as the diversion of the forest land on both sides for road expansion.
Goenkar has also started an online ‘Save Karmalghat’ movement. Each day short videos are uploaded on social media which have gained a lot of traction.
In an another development the locals under the banner residents of Canacona have petitioned different authorities linked to the granting of permissions to the road widening works not to grant clearance for road widening, which involves cutting and destroying the habitat supporting the wild animals and tribals residing on both sides of the hills.
