Team Herald
PONDA: Residents of Kerya-Khandepar have expressed their distress over the ongoing National Highway (NH) widening project, which they say has destroyed the lush green hills that once defined the landscape. The road expansion, which has been underway for a decade, has led to significant environmental damage, including landslides and loss of natural habitats.
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A decade ago, the village of Kerya-Khandepar, located at the entrance of Ponda city, was known for its verdant hills and deep valleys. However, when the narrow road was expanded into a four-lane highway, a significant portion of these scenic hills was levelled. The construction involved cutting through the hills and filling the valleys with excavated material. During the initial phase, a major landslide was reported, forcing authorities to halt NH traffic and divert vehicles through internal roads for fifteen days until the debris was cleared.
The second phase of widening commenced in 2023, this time for the construction of two-way service roads. As a result, the remaining hills were further levelled, leaving the once-green landscape barren.
Rocky Dias, a local resident, voiced his anguish over the environmental impact of the project. “It pains me to see the destruction of Kerya-Khandepar’s scenic green hills due to NH widening. Development is essential, but it should be carried out with minimal damage. The government could have avoided this by constructing a flyover at Kerya Valley and providing an underpass for locals,” he said.
Dias also pointed out the dangers faced by schoolchildren due to the lack of an underpass. “Not only have we lost our natural hills, but we were also not provided with an underpass. Primary school students are now forced to run across the road while vehicles speed past. While commuters on the highway have benefited, the locals are suffering,” he added.
He further noted that even animal corridors have not been built, leading to wildlife straying onto the highway. “Recently, a wild bison was seen roaming on the road,” he said.
Recalling the past, Dias stated, “Kerya-Khandepar was once known for its beautiful greenery, deep valleys, and hills. Five to six years ago, the NH was a narrow road passing through a valley. Later, it was widened into a four-lane highway after massive land filling, with soil excavated from the hills.”
The locals had raised concerns about the environmental impact of the project but found few alternatives, as the highway expansion was deemed necessary for infrastructure development.
Claiming that the greenery has now become a thing of the past, Dias lamented, “When this area was a valley, we could feel the cool breeze, enjoy waterfalls during the monsoon, and appreciate the rich green cover that was home to birds and animals. The valley was also a natural source for groundwater recharge and springs. But now, all of that is lost.”
Residents continue to urge authorities to consider measures that could mitigate further environmental damage and improve safety for both locals and wildlife.
