the goan I networkrPORVORIMrAn estimated 1,000 families affiliated to the Holy Family Church at Porvorim have begun a massive signature campaign, objecting to the proposed acquisition of 170 sq mts of church property for the proposed widening of the National Highway-17 at Porvorim. rIn a memorandum to be submitted to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, the Special Land Acquisition Officer and various authorities, the church administrative committee and parishioners have taken strong objection to a notification by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways seeking to acquire land to widen the NH 17 from Karaswada to Porvorim stretch. rThey said the Holy Family Church, which is located along the highway at Socorro, is the hub of devotion and spiritual growth for over 1,000 from the villagers of Socorro, Pilerne, Salvador do Mundo, Penha-de-Franca, Verem-Reis Magos and beyond. rThe church has limited property which is bounded by three public roads, making every available space precious to the parishioners. “The proposed acquisition not only hurts our sentiments, but in reality it is a dreaded shock and a deadly blow to proprietary rights of our community,” states the memorandum. rCiting several reasons to show that the proposed widening of the NH 17 is not feasible, the memorandum stated, “The local acquiring authority itself is not in a position to clarify the extent of land for the proposed acquisition so as to dialogue to ensure optimum benefit to the affected.” r“The Socorro panchayat has not been taken into confidence as in the case of others who are similarly affected being residents of Pilerne, Salvador-do-Mundo, Penha de France and Verem-Reis-Magos villages and hence, we are all in total darkness as to what is transpiring.” rThe memorandum also stated that no plans to verify the route and its extent is available for inspection, “nor has any presentation ever been organized by the concerned to elucidate the affected on the subject matter, thereby leaving owners of the vaguely published survey numbers of the holdings stated in the notification in a quandary.” rThe memorandum also stated that the existing road “is more than sufficient to erect a one way bypass/flyover and the other way can safely be on the earlier earmarked Chogm Road, which is otherwise wide enough to cater to even for the proposed two-way bypass/flyover.” r“The proposed project appears to be shortsighted considering...the plying of high speed vehicles which will not only develop cracks in the remaining surviving structures in its vicinity, but in fact cause noise and dust pollution which shall be beyond the permissible limits under the laws. rThe memorandum has requested authorities to staying further proceedings till everything is transparently placed before affected land owners through the panchayats concerned, “so as to ensure lapse of the notification in view of objections raised by the multitude of these affected land owners.” rCopies of the memorandum will be forwarded to Porvorim MLA and Minister Rohan Khaunte, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister and other officials. rrrrViews of affected will be considered: Khaunte rrrPORVORIM: Seeking to allay apprehensions by parishioners of Porvorim, Revenue Minister and local MLA Rohan Khaunte assured that views of affected people would be taken into consideration before any decision in taken. r“The state government has not come out with a detailed plan about widening of road as yet and there is no clarity on this issue. Hence, it will not be appropriate for me to comment on this issue at this stage. But views of affected people will certainly be taken into consideration before taking final decision,” said Khaunte.
Porvorim parish gears up to oppose land acquisition
1,000 families affiliated to Holy Family Church begin massive rnsignature campaign objecting to acquisition of church land
