MARGAO
The controversial Cuncolim NH-17 bypass kicked up a fresh row with residents of Veroda coming out strongly against the bypass alignment passing through the cemetery and close to the Veroda church school which is under construction.
While the residents of Veroda opposed the alignment passing close to the church on Tuesday, Wednesday saw the residents of Belatemb opposing the proposed bypass highway passing through the densely populated locality.
At the Veroda meeting, which was attended by Veroda Parish Priest Fr Nelson Colva and Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias, residents vehemently opposed the Cuncolim bypass alignment passing through the Veroda cemetery and close to the church school.
The residents wondered how the NH consultant has demarcated the bypass alignment through the Veroda cemetery and houses when they had announced that the alignment would pass along the Konkan railway tracks.
A resident Ankush Desai demanded to know whether any sane person can even think of designing the bypass over the cemetery and demanded that the government stick to the original alignment passing through Cuncolim.
“Please allow the people of Veroda to live in peace. How can they take the bypass through the cemetery, church school and the houses of the people?” he demanded to know. Cuncolim Municipal Council Vice-chairperson Shashank Desai lamented that the NH authority has kept the people of Veroda and Cuncolim in the dark over the bypass alignment.
“We demand that the NH official stop the ongoing demarcation work and take the people into confidence. The demarcation shows that the bypass alignment is passing through the Veroda cemetery and the school, besides houses of the people,” he said.
Veroda Parish Priest Fr Nelson Colaco later told the media that the issue needs to be resolved peacefully and at the same time the government should not put obstacles before the people.
In his address, Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias assured the people that he would stand by them and would not allow the bypass to pass via the cemetery or the Veroda church. “When people of Panzorconne-Cuncolim demanded realignment of the Cuncolim bypass towards the Konkan railway tracks, I supported the proposal so that there’s least damage to the people. This alignment passing through the Veroda cemetery was never supported by me. I am even ready to resign if the government decides to build the the bypass close to the church,” Clafacio asserted.
He pointed out that the NH consultant appears to be only demarcating various options of realignment as per the government’s decision,
while saying that he will ask for a power point presentation of all the proposals from the consultant.
