Team Herald
VASCO: Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho on Tuesday gave a concrete assurance that all those affected by the widening of National Highway 17-A work will be properly rehabilitated at some alternate sites within Dabolim constituency so as to complete the said widening work of National Highway passing through Dabolim constituency.
He was speaking to reporters after holding joint site inspection with different department officials to resolve all the issues that have been creating hindrance to the ongoing widening work of National Highway 17-A connecting Cortalim to Vasco via Chicalim Junction.
During site inspection, the PWD Technical Assistant Vincent D’Souza informed Godinho that NH appointed contractor has successfully taken up widening of NH17-A road, however, he is unable to take up works in the road stretch near Cloistered Carmel Convent in Chicalim village.
He said that until the underground electricity cables that supply power to Vasco city are shifted from the proposed road widening area, they would be unable to complete the works as during similar works near Zuari Bridge, NH appointed contactor by mistake damaged the underground electricity cables.
D’Souza also informed since the shifting the underground electric cables involves financial implication, the issue has been pending. To this Godinho informed the inspection team that he would take up the issue before power minister and would find a way out.
Another issue that was brought before the inspection team by PWD NH officials was of about eight houses located alongside the highway road. They said that until these houses are removed the works would be held up. It was also informed that the PWD has not acquired land after some objections were raised by the affected parties and thus even this issue needs to be resolved on priority in order to complete road widening works.
Godinho however managed to convince all the affected families to give up their land and promised them to rehabilitate them at some alternate site within Dabolim constituency.
“In entire Goa widening of road works has been going on at war footing, in this respect, some problems were encountered in Chicalim wherein underground electric cables need shifting and some houses need to be relocated. With regards to underground electric cables, I have already sought appointment with Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar and I am sure this issue of shifting cables will be resolved,” Godinho said.
“With regard to houses located alongside the road, somehow the area was not acquired and we have a bottle neck at this stretch of road. After I promised them that government will build better houses for these affected families that too within Dabolim constituency, the affected parties have agreed to shift,” Godinho assured.
