No setback area puts a spoke on road widening
BY SURAJ NANDREKAR
PANJIM, AUG 16
Intending to put things in place and actually doing it are two different things all together.
As per the recent announcement made by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in the legislative assembly, the State Revenue Department has issued circular to the all sub–divisional magistrates, collectors and principal chief engineer (PCE) Public Works Department (PWD) to strictly monitor the encroachments along national highways – NH17 and NH4A, and other roads.
However, one wonder whether the government is actually serious in tackling the issue of growing number of structures along national highways and other roads as it has failed to mention in the circular the setback area to be maintained on either side of the roads.
The department circular states, “It has been desired by the government that all the SDMs are required to see that no new structures should come up within the road widening area of national highways(NHs) and major district roads (MDRs).”
“The SDMs are directed to ensure that they should keep vigil to see that no new structures crop within the area of the road widening of NHs and MDRs,” the circular states without mentioning the area of road widening.
Further, the circular directs all the SDMs to submit monthly reports in this regard to the secretaries of chief minister and the chief secretary by the 10th of every month.
Similarly, the circular has directed the PCE to give suitable instructions to all SDMs under his control to see that no new structures crop up.
However, the top officials in the PWD have raised apprehensions on the circular.
“This circular will create more problems than solve them,” said one official adding “It will create more legal problems. How can we stop construction unless there is anything concrete in writing or a decision on setback area.”
The officials stated that the government has made no mention of the right of way (ROW) or the setback to be followed in the circular.
Recently, bowing to representations and the protests, the chief minister announced that the RoW would be kept at 45 meters wherever possible while widening the NH17 and NH4A, and it would be restricted to 35 m in densely populated areas.
What is interesting to note here is that the PWD has moved a file pertaining to fixing of setback area but the government has been dilly dallying on the matter.
“The file was moved two years ago to fix the setback as per High Court order but for one reason or the other the file keeps on coming back from the secretariat,” officials stated.
The PWD has proposed that the setback for village roads be maintained 10 meters and RoW be seven meters.
For MDRs, the PWD wants setbacks and RoW of 18 and 15 meters respectively while for State highways it is proposed to be fixed at 23 and 15 meters respectively.
“For the national highways the decision on setback and ROWs has to be taken by government and the NHAI but we have proposed 45 and 40 meters respectively,” the officials said.
When contacted by Herald PWD Chief Engineer J N Chimulkar preferred to keep mum on the issue.
“We have moved the file to the government on finalizing the setback and awaiting their reply,” he said.
On the circular, he said, “We are awaiting replies from the government on some queries.”
It may be recalled Herald had reported that the government was granting permissions for buildings along highway despite the PWD’s refusal, by taking an undertaking from the builders.
Many of these people who had given an undertaking to demolish their structures if NH17 is widened are now refusing to do so and have started an agitation against the project.
