From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Panaji, Jan 26: National Highway Diversion Action Committee (NHDAC) today warned of legal recourse against the Goa government, if authorities proceed with the current alignment for the highway expansion.

The action committee has said that they will file writ petition in the High Court pleading that the state government should not be allowed to expand the highway which is threatening several hundred houses.

“We are not against the highway but we want that the alignment should be changed and highway should be built bypassing the villages,” NHDAC convenor Sunil Desai told reporters here.

Desai said that the writ petition is being planned against Digambar Kamat government for forcing the present unjustified alignment on the people. “Government claims that they will opt for fresh alignment but they have already started public hearing process on the old alignment,” he pointed out.

The action committee has said that former chief minister Pratapsingh Rane had worked out a highway plan for Goa which was bypassing villages. “Government should think of a highway on those lines as it will not disturb any human settlement,” Desai said.

NHDAC as a show of strength has organized a public rally at Mapusa on Friday, January 28.

“We may also plan certain activities during the state assembly session beginning from January 31,” he added.

National Highway Authority of India has planned to expand existing highway under the centrally sponsor scheme. Goa government has already initiated land acquisition proceedings for this highway.

The action committee in past had held sit-in and public rallies to protest against the current alignment for highway expansion.