MARGAO, JULY 25
Chinchinim villagers on Sunday unanimously opposed widening of the NH-17 passing through residential areas and have demanded a bypass a la Cuncolim and other villages.
At the Sunday gram sabha meeting, villagers raised their apprehensions about the widening of the existing highway by demolition residential houses in the Dandeavaddo section.
After much discussions, the gram sabha members resolved to opposed the widening of the highway tooth and nail and have demanded construction of a bypass to avoid demolition of residential hosues.
The gram sabha resolution comes against the backdrop of the NHAI decision to reject the state government contention to restrict the width of the highway passing through Chinchinim to 35 meters. Earlier, the Panchayat had opposed the NH-17 if the widening means destruction of the residential houses.
Sarpanch Allwyn Antao joined the villagers in opposing the highway widening and has requested the state government and the central government to construction a bypass in the fields. He pointed out that even a 6-lane highway can be building along the bypass since no residential house would go for demoltion.
The gram sabha also witnessed discussion on the use of the public garden in the market place for religious functions.
The issue came to the fore when it was pointed out that organsiers of the Ganesh Mandal have again approached to the Panchayat body for permission to have the function in the garden.
After much discussions, the gram sabha resolved not to permit any religious function in the public garden.
Incidentally, the Panchayat body had opposed granting of permission for use of the garden for religious purpose by 7-3 votes.
Meanwhile, the gram sabha meeting also discussed other pressing problems facing the village, including the old market, the proposal for a new market complex, the dilapidated primary health centre and other issues.
