the goan I network
MARGAO
There’s finally a ray of hope that the government will work out a solution to the controversy surrounding the SH8 highway passing through heritage village Chandor.
Town and Country Planning Minister, Vijai Sardesai assured a delegation of Chandor villagers led by ex-MLA Joaquim Alemao, Yuri Alemao and Chandor Sarpanch Celina Furtado that the government is committed to get the SH8 highway out of Chandor village.
He said since the Regional Plan 2021 is being operationalized by the government, there’s no question of the SH8 passing through Chandor village any more. That’s not all. The TCP Minister said he is even ready to convene a meeting of the TCP Board with a special agenda to get the SH8 de-notified in the interest of the people.
He said the TCP is even ready to send a letter to the excise department stating that the SH8 highway does not pass through Chandor village as per the RP 21 and advised the villagers to seek information under the RTI, promising that the TCP department will dish out information that the SH8 does not pass through Chandor.
“I am aware of the heritage value of Chandor village. You cannot have a state highway passing through the village and destroy heritage structures. On the contrary, heritage structures need to be preserved and conserved and given a special status. People of the village can even explore heritage tourism for sustenance,” Sardesai said.
In fact, he suggested that Chandor and Borda in Salcete should team up to conserve the architectural heritage by hosting the heritage festival planned by the government later this year. “Even Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has assured that SH8 cannot pass through Chandor. He was only asking the villagers to suggest an alternate route. But since the notified RP 21 does not make mention of the SH8, there’s no question of de-notification,” he added.
Ex-Cuncolim MLA Joaquim Alemao exuded confidence that TCP Minister will not leave Chandor villagers in the lurch, saying Chandor’s heritage needs to be saved for posterity. “Vijai is my friend. He is on the mission to take Goa forward. I am confident that he would give relief to Chandor,” Joaquim added.
Chandor Sarpanch Celina Furtado and former Guirdolim Sapranch Agostinho Antao made a strong case for the de-notification of the SH8 passing through Chandor. The sarpanch said that the state highway will destroy the local church, school, playground, besides the heritage houses in the village, while exuding confidence that the TCP Minister will work out a solution in the best interest of the village.
