Team Herald
PANJIM: The residents of Bhoma on Monday stated that homes can be rebuilt, but the culture of the temple cannot, reiterating their demand that the Goa government should consider a bypass instead of a flyover. However, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated in reality, only a 25-metre-wide flyover is proposed at Bhoma and making changes to the plan would require fresh permissions, which would significantly delay the project.
Alleging that politics is being played over the highway expansion issue, the residents demanded a formal communication from the Centre that aligns with assurances given by the State government.
Speaking to mediapersons, after meeting Chief Minister Pramod Sawant over the long-pending issue of expansion of National Highway, the villagers said that during the meeting they were told that four roadside structures would be affected, but no houses or temples would be impacted.
Putu Gaude, a villager, said, “We have been protesting for the past two-and-a-half years, and not a single official has visited our village. If this plan was made in 1999, why were land acquisition notices not issued then?”
Alleging that politics is being played over the highway expansion issue, he said that the firm decision of the villagers is that there should be a bypass road.
He said, “We are being asked to show the place where the bypass can be constructed. If we show the place then what is their role?”
Pointing out that the original highway plan included two alternative routes, Kishore Naik, another resident, said, “We brought this to the Chief Minister’s attention, but he was unwilling to discuss the bypass options. Our demand has been clear since 2010. We want a bypass, not a flyover. Our demand is firm. We want bypass only. This was assured by former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar and Union minister Shripad Naik.”
Alleging that the authorities are changing plans as per their requirement, another villager said, “We came here to meet the Chief Minister because our meeting with the MLA and discussion with him did not bear any fruit. Homes can be rebuilt but the culture of the temple cannot. If we have to save our village then we need a bypass.”
Earlier, during the meeting, officials presented and explained the proposed flyover and land acquisition plan to the villagers.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the villagers that as per their request, PWD officials will visit Bhoma on Tuesday, April 22, to share on-site project details.
Speaking to mediapersons, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, “Someone has wrongly told the villagers that a 60-metre-wide highway is planned. In reality, only a 25-metre-wide flyover is proposed at Bhoma. Only four houses would be impacted and those affected residents would be adequately compensated and rehabilitated.”
“No temples or other houses will be affected. There will be no problem in going from one temple to another. There is no threat to the village’s cultural or religious structures,” he added.
Responding to the demand for a bypass, Sawant said the current plan was finalised in 2007 and making changes would require fresh permissions, including clearance for potentially affected khazan lands, which would significantly delay the project.
“I urged the villagers to cooperate with the Public Works Department (PWD) officials when they visit the village to show them the plan. They have demanded that they should be given in writing. I will do that. I hope that the issue will be resolved once marking is done,” he said.
Incidentally, Union Transport Nitin Gadkari announced on April 7, that the Centre has sanctioned Rs 1,060.21 crore for the 4-laning of a 7 km stretch from Bhoma to Old Goa on NH-748.