More questions over Socorro road widening

the goan I network
MAPUSA 
The Socorro hill cutting for road widening has opened a can of worms with several villagers questioning the indiscriminate widening and construction of roads in Porvorim. 
“The place where the hill cutting is taking place is a bio-diversity rich area. The stretch has a variety of species of plant and animal life,” said Avertino Miranda, coordinator of Goa Green Brigade. 
Demanding an immediate stop to the hill cutting, Miranda insisted on replanting of trees and restoration of the hill to its original state. 
He said widening of the road was uncalled for and wondered if there were some other plans. 
“Porvorim is expanding at a fast pace. Real estate sharks are eyeing the area. There could be an ulterior motive for the road widening for real estate expansion,” he said. 
Expressing surprise over the hill cutting, Parish Priest of Socorro church, Fr Santan Carvalho said that he tried to gather information about the activity. 
“Some say they require the mud for the highway expansion but no one seems to be telling the truth,” Fr Carvalho said. 
He said widening of the narrow road was required as two cars couldn’t pass on the road. 
“I don’t know till where the road will be widened. There is a cross little further down and I don’t know if they are going to displace it,” he said. 
Fr Carvalho said that a similar exercise of road widening was carried out on another stretch at Aurbirna where there is a chapel. 
“I heard they want to take the chapel back,” he added. 
Sources said indiscriminate construction of roads through communidade land has been going on for quite some time in Porvorim. 
“Why only illegal hill cutting, even land grabbing is going on in Porvorim. All this is happening in connivance with politicians,” said Hari Chodankar, an activist and a resident of Porvorim. 
Many others also admitted that a lot of wrong was going on in and around Porvorim but refused to raise their voice for fear of political
vendetta.