Residents resolve not to allow NH4A pass through Corlim

OLD GOA, JUNE 27
Residents of Corlim and Corlim Citizen Civil and Consumer Forum (CCCCF) members on Sunday resolved not to allow NH4A to pass through Corlim village.
This was decided at a meeting convened by CCCF at Corlim Panchayat hall in Corlim, which was attended by North Goa MP Shripad Naik, former Cumbarjua MLA Nirmala Sawant, NH17 Porvorim Action Committee Chairman Fatima D’Sa, Forum Chairman Alexander Gomes, Forum Secretary Baptist Pereira and others.
Speaking at the meeting, North Goa MP Shripad Naik said: “Time has come for every one to join hands and fight the NH4A, which would cause a lot of destruction, as none of the villagers seems to be taken into confidence.”
“Being MP, I was also not taken into confidence. Though we are not against future prospects, but it has to be done in the right way by taking the people into confidence. Therefore, we will all oppose the NH4A tooth and nail,” stated Naik.
In her speech, former Cumbarjua MLA Nirmala Sawant said: “If one goes to see the speed of a national highway, then a common man will not be able to cross from one side to the other. Therefore, there is a need for the NH4 to divert from the present route.”
Porvorim NH17 Action Committee Chairman Fatima D’Sa said: “The State government does not have the right to pass NH4 through Corlim, which is densely populated.” She also asked the locals to be united to see that the highway does not pass through Corlim.
Forum Secretary Baptist Pereira said: “If NH4 passes through Corlim, it will not only have impact on the houses along the highway, but will also have impact on Corlim village, as the highway will have a divider which will divide Corlim village into two.”
Meanwhile, Cumbarjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar, who was not present at the meeting, told Herald over the phone that he would once again take up the issue during the Assembly Session.
“But, I will definitely not support the Forum in taking a diversion route from the fields of Carambolim village.” Madkaikar told Herald.
It may be recalled that CCCCF members feared that 40 houses would be demolished along the highway. The CCCCF members in a bid to save these houses, had suggested that authorities should instead divert the highway from Old Goa through the fields of Carambolim and Corlim, before connecting it towards the highway at the Banastarim Bridge.