Published in oHeraldo, People's Edit, 15th June 2018
The Union Roads, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari has all reason to be dissatisfied with the slow pace of Goa's destruction arising from the construction of National Highways. Any scope for floating tenders for cement and concrete works is very attractive for politicians and the fear is that the slow pace of such work could leave some opportunity for the next minister to enjoy the cream.
Development for a politician is nothing more than creating opportunities for tendering cement and concrete works to their preferred contractors. Zero cost and low cost projects are not what politicians enjoy. Goa is a wonderful example of how an Infrastructure Development Corporation has been set up to circumvent accountability and transparency under the PWD code and give scope to escalate cost of projects. The politicians are not happy with suggestions to preserve or conserve traditional open spaces, maidans or forests in villages. For them occupying any open space by pushing for monstrous projects like sports complex, joggers park, community hall or panchayat ghar means development because the temporary excitement in citizens and money generated from such projects through their contractors can win them elections.
The National Highway 66 bisecting the village of Socorro is a wonderful example of how costs get escalated to the extent of now building fly overs with an innocent excuse of protecting residential and commercial structures. Hardly anyone remembers that there existed an open stretch for a proposed 40 metre wide bypass on the western side of the existing NH 66 from Porvorim Bazaar which would converge at the O'Coqueiro junction which was systematically permitted to be encroached upon from the year 1996 for mega housing projects and bungalows of government servants who secured plots in communidade land. Similarly, there existed a proposed 10 metre wide ODP road on the eastern side of the existing NH 66 which was denotified in the year 1999 to facilitate real estate development.
The ban for constructing within 40 metres from the centre line of the existing NH 66 along both sides was relaxed during the year 2002 onwards after procuring undertakings from politically influential builders that should the NH be extended they would have no objection to the demolition of their buildings. And today the politicians pretend that space is a constraint for expansion of the NH66 at Porvorim.
Goans can remain enjoying the orgasm from the choose and target industry of some environment crusaders and continue cursing politicians for destroying Goa.
https://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/People-Edit/What-is-Development-For-a-politician/132135.html
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