Govt pledged to build and fund 2 flyovers to prevent Baina beach from getting blocked. Funds still awaited
The NH-17 B stretch of the port town is a plan whosedeadlines are constantly stretched. Now even promises of fund injections don’tflow into the project bloodstream
Rs 100 crore in theNational Highway project to complete the NH-17B stretch in port town of Vascowas pledged four months ago but the state government
Though, NHAI had completed a stretch of 13 km from Verna toVarunapuri eight years ago, the remaining 5.2 km stretch from Vernapuri toHeadland Sada was mired in controversy, what with state government dragging itsfeet and later with the naphtha tragedy that forced the NHAI contractor toabandon work midway.
The first instance of government apathy was noticed when,even though stretches of 13.1 to 14 km and 17 to 18.3 km of NH-17B were notcoming under the ambit of CRZ, the State government issued stop work order.
The whole trail of National Highway 17B has been ofinstitutionalized as land grabbing and undeserving compensation. MPT first paid for the acquired land and thendoled out compensation of almost Rs 4 crore to evacuees. It also built homesfor the displaced and the traditional fishermen to the tune of Rs 15.79 crores.
“We have saved the Baina beach from NHAI embankment thatwould have blocked free access to Baina beach for fishermen and generalpublic,” said Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar. He said that NHAI and MPT has agreed in principle to the Stategovernment’s proposal to build a fly-over from the Ice-Plant, Baina to RavindraBhavan and a second flyover from Destero to Destero Culvert at its owncoast.
However, the NHAI and MPT questioned the logic of building aflyover at eleventh hour that too with an additional investment of Rs 100cores. Both the central government agencies had no issues, if the State waswilling to invest money in the flyover.
“We have no problem with state government investing itsmoney in the project, since it’s already delayed for eight years. We don’t wantto waste more time,” said MPT chairman P Mara Pandiyan. “Eight months are morethan enough to complete the 5.2 km stretch provided NHAI is given a free handto complete the project,” said NHIA officer P S Dodamani.
