CANACONA
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has accorded approval/clearance to divert forestland for urgent restoration of existing road formation of NH66 from Canacona to Bendurdem, which includes Karmalghat, in favour of the PWD Goa.
In an order dated June 28 to the Principal Secretary (Forests) in Goa, the MoEFCC’s Integrated Regional Office, Bangalore conveyed its in-principle approval/Stage-I clearance of the central government for diversion of 0.03 ha of forest land in Canacona for urgent restoration of existing road formation of NH-66 between Km 572/500 to Km 595/200, which passes through Karmalghat area in favour of Executive Engineer, Work Division VII(NH), PWD, Panaji.
In March, the central government has conveyed its technical, administrative and financial sanction of Rs 75.46 cr for the long-pending land acquisition for 4-laning of NH66 from Char-Rasta (Canacona) to Bendurdem (Quepem) at an approximate distance of 23 kms, including the treacherous Karmalghat sharp curve at 581/850 km and narrow Gulem road.
In a communiqué in September 2022, the MoRTH Regional Office at Mumbai had conveyed the Annual Plan for FY2022-23 for Goa amounting to Rs 2,228.78 crore as technically approved by the competent authority of the ministry.
The MoRTH Regional Office had also informed the approved annual plan for Goa for Financial Year 2022-23, which included the 7.97 Km 4-laning of existing Canacona Bypass (Manohar Parrikar Canacona Bypass Road) ends (Maxem) to Polem border Checkpost at a cost of Rs 177.34 crore and land acquisition for 4-laning of NH66 from the start of MPCBR at Char-rasta to Bendordem (Quepem) at a cost of Rs 79 crore.
There is also the rehabilitation of a culvert in this section at a cost of Rs.1.5 crore, land acquisition for 4-laning works from Bendordem to Uskini bandh (Cuncolim) on NH66 at a cost of Rs 298 cr also in the approved Annual Plan for 2022-23.
