a delegation of locals met churchill and explained the problems and submitted following memorandum. he said: cm is interested in this widening. he is under pressure from mine owners. cm told him that this is infrastructure and he is not involved. he asked people to talk to cm. he questioned when all mlas are with their subjects why curchorem mla is deserting voters.
** *GANV RAKHON JAGRUT MANCH, **CURCHOREM* House No. 104/2, Bansai, Curchorem, Goa 403706 Phone No. 0832-2652808 19th July, 2010 Shri Churchill Alemao Hon. Minister for PWD Government of Goa Panaji, Goa SUB: Withdrawal of notification for land acquisition No. 23/2/2010/RD dated 22/6/2010 for widening Tilamol-Cotarli road Dear Sir, We were surprised as well as disappointed to learn about the subject notification in newspapers. Surprised because our MLA has always been assuring us that the widening of the said road is not on cards and disappointed because of the blatant disregard shown by the government to the local opposition to the widening - Village committee constituted for finalizing the Regional plan had rejected it. It was opposed in the Xeldem gram sabha on 8/11/2009. It was also rejected by Cacora-Curchorem Municipal council vide resolution 165 dated 5/4/2010. We oppose the said widening because of following: 1) PWD has not done any traffic survey. Our survey shows that 4-wheeler traffic (non-mining) on this section is 30-50 vehicles/hour against the two-lane road capacity of 150 vehicles/hour. Thus the existing road can suffice for next 15 years. The government has provided for Rs 500 cr in the budget for dedicated mining roads. 2) Since the widening is for mining, it is not public purpose. As such acquiring land under the guise of public purpose is illegal. 3) Spending public money for projects meant for mining is unjust. 4) Curchorem is 5th most populated municipality of Goa with a population of 30,000. Kakoda health centre and other two major hospitals (Dr. Sonu Kamat and Dr. Satish Kudchadkar) are right on this road. Twelve schools with 6000 secondary and 3000 primary students commute on this road. No where in world, dirty cargo like iron ore is hauled through the heart of such a town; not even in Bihar and Jharkand. The government is well aware of the air and noise pollution and traffic hazards mining trucks cause. 5) The land losers will be subjected to immense losses in many ways. Many people would lose houses, shops, compounds, trees, Crosses, Tulsi-vrindavans, and parking spaces. In some cases the plots become too less in width - set-off requirement as per development regulations makes it un-developable. Housing societies, at the time of re-construction will get reduced FAR leading to many internal problems and fights. Making poor people lose for the benefit of wealthy miners is injustice. 6) The widening is not between two towns of Sanguem and Quepem. Widening of Tilamol-Cotarli stretch is like a bottle with two necks. At both ends at Quepem and Sanguem there will be 3 km 2-lane roads with single-lane bridges. This is retrograde planning on part of PWD engineers. 7) The road being widened is not the main road connecting Curchorem to Margao/Panaji/Vasco. The road via Chandor is the main road being 5 km shorter compared to the road via Tilamol. The widening of Tilamol-Cotarli road is thus also a case of misplaced priority. Road via Chandor would also save country of precious fuel and foreign exchange due to lesser distance. 8) Agricultural lands being acquired are tenanted and are under Command Area Development Authority (irrigated by Salaulim) and such lands can not be acquired. 9) Mining transport is already affecting public health, sanitation, agriculture and horticulture. The effect is seen 2 to 5 km on both sides of the road. Widening will lead to increased ore movement and consequentially more pollution (both air and noise) leading to grave consequences to public health and horticulture of 30000 people residing on both the sides of this road. 10) Though this is mining oriented project and that too in thickly populated town, comprehensive (four-season) EIA-EMP has not been conducted. This is necessary considering the revelations in the Economic Survey of Goa 2009-10. During the three years between 2006 and 2009, Paddy output reduced 20% from 221K tons to 177K tons. Vegetable produce reduced 32% from 83K tons to 58K tons. Mango yield reduced 56% from 27K tons to 7.5K tons. Cashew nut crop reduced 52% from 27K tons to 13K tons. 11) The widening is beneficial for a miniscule section of miners whereas the nuisance will be to the account of 30000 people along the road and another 20000 residing away from the road but where the fugitive dust flies due to wind and turbulence. We therefore request you to shelve the widening project and de-notify the subject land acquisition. Thanking you Yours faithfully For Ganv Rakhon Jagrut Manch, Curchorem Sd/- Babazinho Fernandes Convenor * * * IS YOURS one of the stories of Goans on board the S.S. Dwarka, or at the Strait of Hormuz, Basra or Bahrain, Dubai, Swindon, Mombasa, Poona or Rangoon? Selma Carvalho's new book *Into the Diaspora Wilderness* docks at many other ports. Get your copy from Broadways, Panjim [9822488564] Rs 295. P&p extra. http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
