MARGAO: A delegation of Utorda locals met Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira on Friday, regarding their demand for a new road, which he conveyed to the Railway officials.
While admitting that the issue is complex, given that land on which the earlier road existed belongs to the Railways, Sequeira said the railways has been asked if additional land can be acquired to provide a new road to the affected locals.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The locals had earlier raised objections to the closure of the road, which is now being converted into an additional railway track. The Minister explained the land in question, where the road was, is owned by the Railways.
He explained that this road longer exists – the railways have built a retaining wall there. The Minister said that this had then caused an issue with a section of the locals who were using this road.He then explained that there are two groups there with different demands.
He said one of these groups is demanding a road to replace the one that has been closed. He pointed out that the other group said they don’t require a road, as there is already an existing road and that they are okay with a 1.5-metre-wide road
“The railway authorities had earlier moved to acquire land (for a new road), but since they (one group) said that they did not require a road, the railway authorities dropped the land acquisition proceedings. Now that they (the other group) are saying they require a road, we are going to have a meeting with the railway people to request them to acquire that stretch of land,” said Sequeira.
He also clarified that whatever track expansion is being carried out by railways is being done within their own property only. “If the railways acquire this additional land, it would be for the road,” Sequeira added.
‘Contractors sleeping on Collectorate repairs’
MARGAO: After the weekly public grievances meeting held at the Collectorate here, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira spoke about the urgently-needed repairs of the Collectorate building. “There are many works that have to be tendered, while some have already been tendered. The contractors have taken up such works, but they are sleeping on it,” said Sequeira. He lamented that faucets and toilet materials had been stolen, which need to be installed again and remarked that the toilets are presently in a pathetic condition. The other issues with the building are leakage on the floor, electrical connections, sewerage system etc.
He added that the issue of sand mining was also discussed, including the subject of licensing. The Minister expressed hope that the government would finalise permissions for sand mining within a month or two. He noted that the National Green Tribunal has imposed certain restrictions on the issue of permits.
