MARGAO
Demanding the immediate de-notification of the SH-8 highway passing through the heritage village Chandor, Congress leader Yuri Alemao on Tuesday warned that people will come on the streets if any attempt is made by the government to do a re-think in the matter.
Addressing the media in the presence of Chandor Sarpanch Edward D’Silva on Tuesday, Yuri said Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias should explain to the villagers why the controversial SH-8 highway is not de-notified via a notification for the last 18 months when the Chief Minister had given his nod.
Pointing out to the media that the Cuncolim MLA has fixed a meeting with officials on January 8 at Guirdolim to discuss the issue, Yuri sought to know what sort of consultation has been fixed by the MLA with officials when the CM had approved the de-notification around 18 months ago.
Saying that the people of Chandor are not against development, he, however, warned that any attempt made to satisfy the Jindals and Adanis by doing a re-think on the SH 8 highway will be opposed tooth and nail. “Our RTI replies confirm that the Chief Minister has approved the proposal to de-notify the present SH-8 and reclassify it as MDR. The present notified MDR passing through Margao-Sao Jose-de-Areal-Paroda-Quepem-Curchorem is to be reclassified as SH-8. A draft notification vetted by the Law Department is already ready where the new MDR is allotted number 53. Because of the delay in issuing the notification, a MDR in Pernem has now been allotted the number 53,” he claimed
Expressing shock that the publication in the gazette of this notification is taking over 18 months, he said, “It looks like vested interests in the government are blocking the publication in the gazette.”
Saying that ruling powers are spreading false news that the people are against development, he said, “This is a dangerous trend of calling opposition as anti-national.”
Chandor Sarpanch Edward D’Silva asserted that the SH-8 highway will destroy the heritage structures in Chandor. He demanded to know why it has taken 18 months for the government to de-notify it when the CM had promised to do within days.
On MLA Clafacio Dias’ visit to the road overbridge site last month, the Chandor Sarpanch demanded to know why the MLA did not take the village panchayat into confidence on the issue.
