Opposition to proposed NH4 widening via Corlim gains momentum

Opposition to proposed NH4 widening via Corlim gains momentum
CCCCF’s public meeting today
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
OLD GOA, JUNE 19
Opposition to the proposed widening of the NH4 national highway through Corlim is gaining momentum with the Corlim Citizens Civic and Consumer Forum (CCCCF) to convene a public meeting at the Monfort Hall at Molar-Corlim village on Sunday at 9.45 am.
The Communidade of Corlim has also voiced concern on the issue, but has stated that the government should pass the NH4 highway through the fields from Old Goa and connected to Banastarim Bridge, as most fields belong to communidades of the respective villages.
It may be noted that CCCCF members had raised fears over the likely demolition of over 40 houses along the highway in Corlim, with the Central government’s plan to widen the NH4 highway which passes through Corlim.
In a bid to safeguard the houses from demolition, they had suggested the diversion of the highway from Old Goa through fields of Carambolim and Corlim, connecting to the highway at the Banastarim Bridge.
The CCCCF had earlier undertaken a signature campaign and had submitted a representation on April 24 to the Chief Minister, PWD, Deputy Collector and local MLA Pandurang Madkaikar, seeking their intervention in the matter.
“How can a highway pass through a village? Instead, it should pass through the outskirts of the village. There are no plans available with the Corlim panchayat, nor have they asked the concerned departments which houses are likely to be demolished,” said CCCCF Secretary Baptist Pereira.
Meanwhile, the Communidade of Corlim has suggested that the government should, instead, have the NH4 highway passing through the fields from Old Goa and connected to Banastarim Bridge, as most fields belong to communidades of the respective villages.
In a press note, Communidade of Corlim President Gustavo Pereira and Attorney Baptist Pereira have said the problem would not be solved if the present NH4 highway’s width is minimized considering public demand.
“After another five to ten years, the State government will once again propose a new highway and this will create problems for the locals yet again. The Communidade of Corlim feels that an appropriate decision should be taken at this very movement, so that the best solution can be decided for the future generation,” the press note added.
“The right and justified route was to have taken the NH4 highway route from Banastarim Bridge through the shallow fields of Communidade of Corlim, which were always submerged and not cultivated by tenants for the past few years. There was an existing road of the Portuguese regime, known as Fortaleza Do Estado, passing through the field.”
“It is better to have the NH4 highway passing through the fields from Old Goa and connected to the Banastarim Bridge, as most fields belong to the communidades of the respective villages,” the Corlim communidade officials said.