SHOAIB SHAIKH
PANJIM: The growing resentment from panchayats to the in-principle approval for declaration of State Highways and major district roads as National Highways displays the need for more say of the local governing bodies in decision making.
While all the 21 roads approved to be declared as National Highways fall within the jurisdiction of the panchayats, the local bodies do not enjoy the rights to intervene in the matters of infrastructure development proposed by the State or the Central government.
Panchayats Director Gurudas Pilarnekar said panchayats are asked for permission or approval only when the land belongs to the panchayat. “When the land is privately owned, the PWD undertakes the process of hearing and goes for land acquisition and the panchayat has no role in it.”
He further said that in most of the cases land is already in possession of the State, and the PWD or the agency tasked with the infrastructure development goes ahead with the execution of the work.
He said, “Infrastructure development by the State or the Central government come under all the three lists – Union, State and Concurrent – and they do not require the local body’s approval.”
However, the panchayats through the gram sabhas have resolved to approach the new State government to refuse the proposal. Nevertheless, the final decision on the proposal could be arrived at only when the detailed project report (DPR) is prepared.
Calangute Deputy Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira said the panchayat is opposed to nationalisation of the road. “We do not want the road from Aguada to Arpora to be declared as national highway.”
While the Bharat Mala Pariyojana intends to build infrastructure for promotion of tourism, the cause of concern for most of the panchayats is the Supreme Court directions to ban liquor sale within 500 meters radius of highways, which will spell doom for tourism in these areas.
Sequeira said, “We have already taken a resolution in the gram sabha that we do not want this national highway because the entire tourism industry will be affected. We will take up the issue with the next government.”
