Tension escalates in Bhoma as PWD begins highway survey

PWD officials conduct survey for highway expansion project amidst police presence at Bhoma on Tuesday.

PANAJI
The Public Works Department (PWD) officials on Tuesday began the initial survey and ground marking exercise for the contentious highway expansion project amidst heavy police presence at Bhoma even as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant indicated that he will continue the dialogue with the villagers once the land marking is completed and the real picture is clearer to them.

There were some tense moments on ground zero at the site on Tuesday when the PWD officials started demarcation work with heavy police presence as a large number of locals also gathered there.

Bhoma residents have for several years been opposing the construction of a flyover in their village and proposing instead a bypass road arguing that their homes, temples and age-old cultural activities will be disrupted.

Sawant, meanwhile, said he had informed the villagers that after the site marking is completed and they understand the real situation, they can come again for further talks.

MoRTH notifies additional land

In a related development, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has notified its intention to acquire around 26,310 sq metres (2.631 Hectares) of additional land across four villages in Ponda taluka for this highway four-laning project and sought public feedback.

The notification dated April 16 identifies the land in the villages of Kundaim, Cuncoliem, Veling and Priol.

The notification invites objections from the affected persons within 21 days which must be submitted in writing to the Special Land Acquisition Officer, PWD–National Highways, at Altinho.