MARGAO
Government’s proposed plan to widen the Major District Roads has evoked strong objections at the gram sabha meetings of Colva and Assolna village panchayats on Sunday.
At both the gram sabha meetings, agitated members opposed move to widen the existing MDRs in the two villages fearing demolition of existing houses and compound walls.
At the Colva meeting chaired by Sarpanch Tereza D’Silva, gram sabha members demanded to know whether the government has decided to widen the MDR road passing along Salcete coastal belt to 25 metres. Members pointed out that any move to widen the MDR to 25 metres will result in the demolition of large number of structures, including ancestral houses and commercial establishments.
Participating in the discussions, members felt that the PWD should at the most widen the MDR to 10-15 metres to cater to the traffic requirements. They feared that any attempt to widen the MDR to 25 metres will result in demolition of structures.
Similar sentiments were echoed at the Assolna gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Isaca Fernandes. Members demanded to know whether the government has finalized any plan to widen the existing Assolna-Velim and Assolna-Cuncolim Major District Roads to 40 metres.
They feared that any move to widen these MDRs will result in the demolition of houses and compound walls dotting along the road side.
