PANJIM: The people of Sangolda and Saligao on Saturday maintained their opposition to the widening of Chogm road passing through their villages claiming that their houses and compound walls would be demolished.
The villagers continued their demand that the government undertake only hot-mixing of the Chogm road by maintaining the original width. They also recommended that instead of widening the Chogm road, the existing road from Saligao junction to Porvorim Tisk, which is running through the fields, should be developed and widened as it would not affect the properties of public in general.
Addressing a joint a press conference, Sangolda villagers clarified that they have not granted their consent to the road widening during the recent gram sabha meeting, as reported by a section of the media quoting Saligao MLA and Minister Jayesh Salgaonkar. “Our opposition to the road widening continues. We have not granted any consent and will not grant even in future,” a villager from Sangolda Sandra Fernandes said.
She said that three-laning of the Chogm road will destroy the heritage look of the Sangolda village. “For three-laning, they will have to demolish the heritage houses and compound walls, which we are not going to allow,” Fernandes stated.
Another local Jimensey Sangoldkar recalled that the gram sabha in November, 2018 had passed a resolution opposing widening of the proposed road and had suggested alternatives. “The villagers have been opposing the proposed road widening since 2004. Earlier in 2014 also, gram sabha had passed resolution against the project,” he stated.
Villager from Saligao Domnic Fernandes pointed out that Saligao gram sabha had resolved against the road widening, last month. “We know that this is a pet project of the MLA, but we want him to undertake hot-mixing of the road maintaining the width as the road is in bad shape and has become a death trap,” he said.
Fernandes warned that if MLA fails to listen to the voice of the locals, then the people would also not listen to him in future.
Salgaonkar remained unavailable for the comments.
It is instructive that during the gram sabha meeting held on February 3, the MLA had assured that he would not go ahead with the project without the consent of the locals.
