Guirdolim gives nod for underpass, Chandor for special session

the goan I network
MARGAO

The special gram was specifically called to discuss and deliberate to decide whether the villagers favour an underpass at the railway crossing since GSIDC and railway engineers maintained that an underpass with a 2.2 meter height can be built at the railway crossing.
During discussions, villagers demanded to know why the proposed underpass cannot be constructed
with a three meter height, saying that water logging can be taken care of by pumping out water during the monsoons.
Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias explained to the villagers his stand on the issue, saying that the railway and GSIDC has offered a
solution to the railway crossing traffic woes by constructing a underpass.
After much discussions, the gram sabha adopted a resolution in favour of a 7-meter wide underpass with a height of three meters to facilitate plying of two vehicles. The gram sabha members also proposed a 1.2 meter footpath for pedestrians in the underpass.
Sarpanch Malisha Carvalho told The Goan that the gram sabha has unanimously passed a resolution in faovur of an underpass.
MLA Clafacio said that both the underpass at the railway crossing and the over bridge, around two kms away from the crossing, will be approved together, but hastened to add that an undertaking will be sought from the district collector, South to take up work on the bypass no sooner the over bridge sees light of the day.
Meanwhile, even as a special gram sabha of Guirdolim panchayat gave its green-signal for an underpass at the railway level crossing, the Sunday gram sabha of neighbouring Chandor Panchayat has resolved to call for a special gram sabha to deliberate on the contentious issue.
When the issue came up at the Sunday gram sabha of Chandor panchayat chaired by Sarpanch Celina Furtado, members demanded to know how come the Chandor panchayat body has been ignored by the authorities in the scheme of things when the level crossing affects residents of Chandor village as well.
In fact, some of the gram sabha members felt that a flyover at the existing railway level crossing would have served better than an underpass.
Members felt that the authorities should explore the possibility of constructing a flyover on the lines of Margao and urged the Panchayat body to take the initiative to draw up a plan.
After much discussion, the gram sabha has asked the Sarpanch to soon convene a special gram sabha to discuss the railway crossing issue by inviting the local Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias and others for the meeting.

Residents oppose State highway

MARGAO: The Chandor gram sabha on Sunday has resolved to oppose the State highway passing through the village, saying the SH8 will destroy the heritage housed in the village.
At the Sunday gram sabha chaired by Sapanch Celina Furtado, members were vehement in their opposition to the State Highway 8 passing through the village.
Some of the members even demanded to know the stand of the local Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias on the issue, demanding that the Panchayat should convey the gram sabha decision to the authorities.
After the meeting, Sarpanch Celina told The Goan that the gram sabha in one voice has opposed to the SH8 on grounds that it will destroy houses and heritage houses along the route.
The Sarpanch further said that gram sabha members also demanded an immediate stop the plying of loaded trucks on the village roads despite the fact that plying of heavy trucks have no permits from the authorities.
The issue of garbage and waste management was also discussed at the gram sabha. The Sarpanch said it is the desire and wish of the villagers to make Chandor the cleanest village in the state. In this respect, she said the Panchayat has received the support of local Non Governmental Organisation, Ghan Bhavancho Ekvott to maintain cleanliness in the village.