MARGAO
Local PWD officials have feigned ignorance of the proposal to convert and upgrade the existing Major District Road (MDR), which runs from Velsao to the Salcete coastal belt up to Cavelossim-Mobor.
Alarm bells have started ringing among residents of the villages along the Salcete coast, with fears being raised in many quarters that the expansion of the MDR by the Union Ministry for Road and Surface Transport will result in large-scale destruction of residential houses and structures along the road. It is feared that the expansion of the MDR will result in the demolition of hundreds of structures along the stretch.
The issue first came up at the gram sabha of the Carmona village panchayat a week ago when members expressed concern over the proposal to convert and upgrade the existing MDR road from Velsao to Cavelossim. The issue was also raised at the gram sabha of the Cavelossim gram sabha held on Sunday, where members expressed their deep concern over the MDR expansion and its fallout on the residential houses along the road.
Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz sought to allay fears, stating that no such proposal has been received by the panchayat body so far. He, however, assured the villagers that the panchayat would find out from the government agencies, including the PWD, whether there is any proposal to expand the existing MDR road.
Meanwhile, Carmona Sarpanch Sandra Martins has made a representation to South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes, drawing his attention to the decision taken by the gram sabha opposing the expansion of the MDR road. The petition pointed out that the gram sabha has unanimously resolved to oppose the approval given in principle by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to convert the existing MDR 43 from the Velsao junction on NH 17B to the Mobor Leela Beach (St Regis) junction. The MP’s intervention has been sought, as the proposal by MoRTH falls under the Union list, the Sarpanch stated.
In the past, village panchayats from Salcete had vehemently opposed the expansion of the existing MDR road, fearing that it would lead to the large-scale destruction of structures and the displacement of local residents.
