the goan I network
MARGAO
In an interesting development, Chandor villagers waging a continuous battle over the last one year and half to de-notify the state highway SH8 passing through the heritage village has requested ex-Cuncolim MLA Joaquim Alemao to use his good offices with the government to get the controversial highway de-notified.
Claiming that the SH8 group leading the ongoing movement is an apolitical group, the villagers said the group is free to approach anyone, including the ex-MLA Joaquim Alemao if that helps to get the state highway passing through the village de-notified. The villagers claimed that though incumbent Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias has been with the villagers on the issue, they claimed the MLA did not take up the issue on priority and with all seriousness.
Addressing the media, Chandor Sarpanch Celina Furtado said the movement launched by SH8 group is apolitical intended to protect and preserve the world famous monuments and heritage houses, which will all be destroyed if the SH8 passing through the village becomes a reality. She wondered how the SH8 was notified through the village when successive regional plans had shown that it was passing via Aquem-Baixo, Paroda, Quepem and Curchorem. She asserted the agenda of the villagers is to get the SH8 de-notified since it will affect the local Church, school and the football ground, besides other heritage houses.
A villager Joy D’Silva pointed out that the SH8 was shown in the Regional plan as passing through Aquem Baixo-Paroda-Quepem. “Since our group is apolitical, we have decided to approach everyone to get the SH8 de-notified and we have approach ex-MLA Joaquim Alemao. In the past, we had approached the TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai and PWD Minister Sudin Dhavlikar, who had both visited the village and inspected the heritage areas that would be destroyed by the state highway”, Joy said.
Replying to a question, he said Joaquim Alemao has promised to support the villagers in the battle against the controversial State highway. Joy admitted that local MLA Clafacio Dias had been with the villagers, but hastened to add that the MLA did not accord priority to the issue.
“We need to take everyone along, including the local MLA, ex-MLA and other Ministers. Hence, we have gone to the ex-MLA with the request to get the state highway de-notified”, he added.
