Team Herald
PONDA: The Kavlem locals on Friday expressed shock to see the controversial Kavlem-Khadpaband road was closed in the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) jurisdiction by using the iron channels.
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However, there was no first hand information whether the PMC or builder has closed it. The road has been in the news recently due to controversy prevailing over its use.
It may be recalled that the Kavlem Panchayat and PMC have always been in tussle over the road. The Kavlem locals have also staged protests in the past over the closure of road.
According to the PMC, the road is not existing and not shown in ODP of Ponda Town while the Kavlem Panchayat and Marcaim MLA say the road is located and acquired by PWD and will not allow to close it.
The PMC had few months ago even passed a resolution to close the road stating that it is not existing at that stretch and not shown in ODP of PMC.
However, the Kavlem Panchayat had opposed the PMC’s move for its closure claiming that the road has been used by the Kavlem locals for several years and acquired and constructed by the PWD. Besides Kavlem, it is used by Khadpaband, Ponda, Bandora, Talavalim and Durbhat locals as a shortcut route to the Ponda town and by the students from the town schools.
Recently, the road was washed away with the heavy rains and had developed huge potholes and deteriorated at Kavlem-Khadpaband junction where it connects Dhavali-Farmagudi road.
Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar said, “The road is legal, PWD had acquired land for it and can’t be closed.”
Kavlem Sarpanch Rajesh Kavlekar said, “The panchayat will not allow to close the road as it is a shortcut route for the Kavlem locals to Ponda town.”
