OLD GOA
The villagers of Azossim-Mandur have resolved to oppose the move to widen the Pilar-Old Goa road fearing that several houses, temples, chapels, crosses and other structures located along the road will be demolished.
The resolution was adopted at a special gram sabha held by the Azossim-Mandur panchayat on Sunday. The villagers further resolved that the Pilar to Old Goa road which is earmarked as major district road (MDR) should be denotified and reverted back as village road.
It may be recalled that on an earlier occasion, the villagers of Neura have also voiced their opposition to the widening of the road.
Speakers at the meeting opined that the widening of the road is meant only for the purpose of coal transportation.
“We should never allow the road widening to happen as it will lead to demolition of several houses, temples, chapels, crosses and other structures,” the speakers said.
“We also demand that the Pilar-Old Goa road be denotified as MDR and declared as a village road,” the speakers demanded while citing that major district roads in Candolim-Calangute and Chandor-Guirdolim have been denotified and earmarked as village roads, which will solve the issue once and for all.
The villagers also informed that an alternate road along the Konkan Railway track could be taken up.
Prof Ramrao Wagh urged the local MLA Francisco Silveira to raise the issue in the upcoming Assembly session so that the government comes clear on the issue.
Stating that he is opposed to the widening of the Pilar-Old Goa road, MLA Francisco Silveira said that he will work towards getting the road denotified as MDR.
Silveira also urged the Azossim-Mandur panchayat to send him a copy of the resolution adopted at the gram sabha as it will help him in taking up the issue forward. “I have already received letter from the Neura panchayat. But letters from other affected panchayats are also needed,” he stated while adding that he will never allow the widening of the road to happen.
Azossim-Mandur deputy sarpanch Cipriano Afonso said that the panchayat will support the people and will not allow widening of the Pilar-Old Goa road.
St Lourenco ZP member Dhaku Madkaikar, panch Francis Po and others also spoke.
