the goan I network
MARGAO
Is the government within its right to take a call on the de-notification of the National highways passing through the State on grounds that the same were notified when Goa was a Union Territory?
Or, will the government denotify the State highways to give relief to the beleaguered bar and liquor outlets on grounds that the same were notified in the late 70’s without any concrete alignment or demarcation of the road in question?
When these questions were posed to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to shed light on the de-notification of the National and State highways to save the hundreds of bar and liquor outlets across the State, Parrikar said that the government is actively considering all aspects of the notification and de-notification of the National and State highways. “Two officials from my office are actively working to coordinate with the PWD and other officials on the highway notifications which were issued in the 70’s,” Parrikar said, adding ‘considering that the government is building bypasses in major towns, the question of notifying these bypasses as National highways is not ruled out’.
He pointed out that it is true that the State highways were notified in the late 70’s without application of mind and taking into consideration the alignment of the highway. “I have been told that no survey was done nor alignment was demarcated by the PWD before notifying the highways. Officials from my office are examining the issue in its entirety.”
Though the Chief Minister was silent on the legality of the notification of the National highways since the same was notified when Goa was an Union Territory, highly placed sources said the Chief Minister has asked senior officials to examine the issue at length before the State takes a concrete decision within the next two months.
He told the media that the government will not act in haste nor move the SC with a review petition in a hurry. “We are examining the issue from all angles and a detailed study will be carried on all aspects before moving the SC. Let me repeat that the government will not move the SC with a review petition in a hurry,” Parrikar said, while reiterating that it will take 2-3 months for the government to prepare a foolproof case before moving the SC.
The Chief Minister’s stand on the de-notification of the National and State highways assumes significance since senior PWD officials opine that the State government will be within its right to denotify the State highways and also prepare a report for the de-notification of the National highways on grounds that work on the construction of bypasses have already begun in Margao, Ponda and Vasco.
Will not denotify highways,
says Parrikar in Delhi
PANAJI: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar spoke in a different tone in Delhi and said he is not going to denotify highways like how other states are contemplating to do so.
While speaking at an event in Delhi on Thursday, Parrikar was quoted in a PTI report as saying Goa attracts a lot of international tourists and hence some relaxation is needed with regard to Supreme Court order banning liquor along highways.
“India is a vast country...Goa is a tourist state, we need some relaxations. But I am not going to denotify highways,” Parrikar said at the event.
Several states are looking at measures like denotifying highways while others are thinking of moving court to seek exemptions.
Ball in govt’s court?
The CM’s stand on the de-notification of the National and State highways assumes significance since senior PWD officials opine that the State government will be within its right to denotify the State highways and also prepare a report for the de-notification of the National highways on grounds that work on bypasses have already begun in Margao, Ponda and Vasco
