Planning forPorvorim...(Herald)

EDITORIAL 27/12/2012 Planning forPorvorim... The government has long last focused its attention on the development of Porvorim. For a start, roads are being widened. But the congestion during peak hours at the PWD water tank junction continues in this peri-urban area, though on a smaller scale. What is rather disturbing is the manner in which contractors undertake the road broadening, ignoring some peripheral trees. Their existence naturally narrows down the motorable stretch. Or, is it that protests from locals over tree-cutting were aimed at creating parking slots between the trees for the adjacent residential units? In any case, for how long will even these redone roads be serviceable vis-a-vis the burgeoning traffic? Planning for Porvorim requires much more than just road widening. Do the authorities know, for example, what are the logistics involved in relocating the high-tension electric lines supplying power to the Legislative Assembly complex or the underground roadside water tank? These are the issues that need thought ~ whether the ongoing plans are aimed at a quick-fix solution to the existing mess or are they being pursued, as they ought to be, with a long-term perspective looking at the projected growth of the area in, say, two or three decades. The highway bifurcating Porvorim is a virtual death-trap for pedestrians as well as motorcyclists crossing the stretch. Forget about the sick, old or the handicapped, even the fit and able find it risky to transverse the asphalted stretch what with even speed breakers having failed to slow the high-speed traffic. In fact, some parents have pulled out their wards from schools’ extra-curricular activities beyond school hours because of the fear they nurture that their children would be exposed to unacceptable risks while traversing this stretch of road. How many road deaths is the government waiting for before it decides to build a subway, a road under-bridge or a flyover? What has held back the authorities from initiating strong pro-people safety initiatives? This is a number one priority for the residents of Porvorim and yet no discussions are held on this crucial issue. Porvorim now can boast of hotels, a bus depot, staff housing colonies, shopping super centres, government offices, including the North Goa district Consumer Court et al thus making it a de facto urbanized area. However, even at this point, planners have failed to learn the lessons of Panjim’s haphazard growth, with roads turning narrower by the day and parking mess impacting residents of private properties and inner roads. Porvorim continues to limp with along with an archaic sewage system with sewage tankers disposing human waste, notwithstanding the fact that septic tanks and water sumps are located cheek-by-jowl threatening to contaminate drinking water sources of residents. There have even been even complaints before the Health Department of neighbours releasing sewage water over the water sumps, triggering complaints before the police and various authorities. In such a scenario, the issue that needs attention is planning out a sewage network throughout Porvorim. If land acquisition is the issue delaying commencement of work on projects which would improve the quality of life, the State must come clean. There have been positive utterances from the government over land acquisition, specially with the government contemplating offering market rates to land losers. The compensation ought to be so attractive that residents come forward to volunteer their land for acquisition. Needless to say, Porvorim needs a comprehensive masterplan for the next 25 years. Development of market or wide roads are mere cosmetic changes which will not meet the more pressing needs of residents. The people of Porvorim have a right to a better quality of life. http://oheraldo.in/newscategory/Edit/15