the goan I network
MARGAO
Residents of Cuncolim and Dandeavaddo in neighbouring Chinchinim pinned their hopes on Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai to realign the NH-17 away from the crowded residential areas, as the process of consultations ordered by the Chief Minister with the representative of the people and the highway officials get underway from Wednesday.
Residents of Cuncolim led by former MLA Joaquim Alemao and son Yuri, besides residents of Chinchinim led by the deputy sarpanch of Chinchinim panchayat Valentino Barretto had called on the Chief Minister with TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai on Monday with a plea to take the national highway via the Konkan railway tracks and away from human habitation. Former PWD Minister and NCP MLA Churchill Alemao had also joined the discussions with the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister is believed to have told the NH-17 officials to ensure that no panic situation is created in Cuncolim and Dandeavaddo. Instead, Parrikar, after personally scrutinising the routes super imposed google maps, later asked the officials to mark the routes with flags for clarity of the residents. He sought the delegation to nominate four representatives with names, address, phone numbers, while assuring the delegation that he would prepare a draft of the highway route after consultations with the representatives and place the final plan before the residents before going for land acquisition.
Former Minister Joaquim Alemao said that he is confident that the Chief Minister and the TCP Minister will take into account the sentiments of the residents and taking the Highway along the railway tracks.
“Taking the highway through the densely populated areas of Cuncolim will defeat the long term traffic requirements. The plan approved by the consultant, which is running parallel to the railway tracks is the only solution,” Joaquim added.
Chinchinim Deputy Sarpanch Valentino Barretto informed that the Chief Minister decisively counter the PWD officials by saying that acquisition is the prerogative of the government and is not the concern of PWD.
“The Chief Minister also reasoned that Highways should not pass through crowded residential areas. The joint delegation pointed out that the acquisition of uncultivated fields will
help in all future expansion and avoid costly dislocation and rehabilitation,” Barretto added.
Earlier the delegation of Dandeavaddo discussed the bypass drawn by NHAI with the TCP Minister Vijay Sardesai and PWD authorities. The Minister appreciated the stand of the residents for bypass with specific distances for acquisition, cost of new acquisition vis a vis reacquisition along acquired
route and costs of flyover, Barretto said.
