Cortalim MLA flags pending NOCs as big hurdle to road connectivity

Cortalim MLA Antonio Vas on Friday inaugurated road works worth around Rs 47 lakh at Sai Vihar in Velsao.

VASCO
Cortalim MLA Antonio Vas on Friday stressed the need for landowners to cooperate and provide No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for internal roads, stating that several long-pending development works in villages get delayed due to the absence of permissions from private landowners.
Vas was speaking after inaugurating road works worth around Rs 47 lakh at Sai Vihar in Velsao. He said the newly constructed road had remained pending for nearly five years despite repeated demands from local residents.
“The demand for this road was placed before me several years ago. However, the work could not begin as the required NOCs were not available. Only after permissions were secured recently could the work be taken up on a war footing for the benefit of the villagers,” said Vas.
He stated that many interior roads in villages face similar hurdles and appealed to landowners to support development works that benefit the larger public. Vas added that proper road connectivity was essential for residents, particularly during emergencies and the monsoon season.
Social worker Roquezinho D’Souza, who was also present, said that several government housing schemes lose their purpose if houses are not connected by proper roads.
Referring to the Mhaje Ghar scheme, D’Souza said: “The government has begun the process of legalising the houses for the people, but if there is no road access, the purpose of the scheme is defeated. Landlords should come forward and provide NOCs in the interest of villagers,” said D’Souza.
He further demanded that the government should consider acquiring land in cases where landlords refuse to grant permissions for essential public roads in villages.
D’Souza said he had personally followed up for several years to complete a road project at Kanten Bellem, which had remained unresolved for nearly five decades.
According to him, work on the road had started earlier, but remained incomplete after certain landowners allegedly refused to issue NOCs.
Residents present at the function welcomed the completion of the Sai Vihar road and expressed hope that similar pending connectivity issues in other parts of the constituency would also be resolved soon.