MARGAO, AUG 9
A delegation of the Diversion NH4A Action Committee called on the Chairman of the House Committee on NH4A and NH17 Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat and demanded realignment of the NH4A highway from Curti Amigos hotel via Borim to Loutolim through the Verna Industrial Estate.
Led by Action Committee leader Sunil Desai, the delegation impressed upon the House Committee Chairman to reconsider acquisition of land for the highway widening in the best interest of the Goan people.
After meeting the Chief Minister, Desai later told Herald that the delegation called on Kamat as the House Committee is meeting on Wednesday to deliberate threadbare the objections raised by the citizens group against further widening of the highways in populated areas. He said the delegation has demanded that the highway should be taken away from the villages and cities.
“Tomorrow the House Committee is meeting to discuss the sentiments of the people. We have submitted a memorandum for the consideration of the House Committee”, Desai said.
In the memorandum, the Committee said that acquisition of land for the NH4A will result in demolition of more than 541 major structures, causing a loss of around Rs 1250 crore.
Citing a host of reasons for objecting to the NH4A, the memorandum said no environmental clearance certificates has been obtained from the central government, adding that no construction or digging of land should be permitted within the radius of 200 mts from heritage national monuments such as Safa Masjid at Ponda and the Old Goa Church at Old Goa.
Saying that the present NH4A alignment will divide the villages of Molem, Dharbandora, Usagao, Khandepar, Curti, Bhoma, Corlim-Malar, Old Goa, Chimbel and Raibandar, the
memorandum said that crossing on the way will be impossible and people will suffer while visiting markets, schools, hospitals, neighbours and government offices.
