NH17 WIDENING ISSUE SEES NO END IN SIGHT

PANJIM: Though the state government is making tall promises of reducing the width of national highway from 60 metres to 45 metres and 35 metres in congested areas, the Union Ministry for Surface Transport is yet to issue a notification to this effect.

This has made it difficult for the deputy collector who is due to submit a report on land acquisition for areas falling in Tiswadi and Ponda talukas by November-end.

The deputy collector, Mr Anthony D’Souza said that the report will now have to be prepared on the basis of the November 30, 2009 notification which mandated acquisition of a 60-meter wide strip for widening the highway to accommodate four-lanes.

Explaining the reason for delay in finalisation of land acquisition, Mr D’Souza said after the re-survey of the highway, it was found that the plans submitted by Wilbur and Smith did not reflect the ground reality and did not correspond with the plans of the state. Hence the entire process had to be conducted again.

Mr D’Souza said that it was a total failure on the part of the consultation firm in preparing the report which has led to a lot of confusion. He said that as per the request of the state government, diversion of the several routes and reduction of width has been introduced in the new alignment, which will have to be notified afresh.  “Wherever the alignment matches the notification, I can make recommendations to the Centre. For the rest, the government of India will have to publish a fresh notification,” he said.

Interestingly, while the state government seems to be on overdrive to get the highway passed and hand the land to the Centre for the proposed highway, it is yet to vacate the abeyance order on acquisition of land which was issued by the under-secretary of revenue, Mr Pandarinath Naik on August 25.  It has also been learnt that Mr D’Souza has written to Mr Naik inquiring into the same and requesting that the order be vacated so that he can proceed with the report. (NT)