MARGAO
Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira on Friday said he would lead a delegation of farmers to Union Minister for Road Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari to discuss and work out a solution for the new high-level Borim bridge.
Sequeira told the media after the weekly darbar at the South Goa District Collectorate that the PWD will also give its report on the possibility of arriving at a new bridge alignment before the visit of the Union Minister on July 11-12.
He said the PWD officials met the farmers of Loutolim earlier this week wherein the farmers suggested for a new alignment to build the bridge. “We are waiting for the PWD report. Accordingly, a decision will be taken by the government before going ahead with the bridge construction,” he said.
He added: “I have sought an appointment with Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari when he visits Goa on July 11-12. I will lead a delegation of farmers to the Minister. Let them express their grievances and reservations on the bridge to the Minister.
"I am sure the Union Minister will try his best to resolve the issue. I believe the issue can be resolved only through dialogue. The farmers have also filed their petition before the National Green Tribunal. Let us see the outcome.”
Saying it is his endeavour that no house goes for demolition because of the new Borim bridge, the Environment Minister, however, said, “I also believe that a bridge is necessary across river Zuari at Borim.”
Saying the government has been proactive in going for the new bridge and is not waiting for the existing bridge to collapse, Sequeira said the government has taken the initiative to build a new bridge taking note of the scenario there is no bridge at all if the existing bridge comes down.
“I have interacted with the farmers and they are not disputing the need for a bridge. The issue is over the alignment. The PWD has come out with seven different alignments. The question that remains unanswered is whose land the PWD will acquire for the bridge,” he added.
Tree trimming issue has govt over a barrel, admits Environment Minister
Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira said the State government finds itself in a predicament over the question of trimming trees, with some opposing the exercise while others endorsing it.
“I really don’t know what is to be done when there are two schools of thought, one supporting tree trimming and others opposing it,” he said when questioned over the complaints lodged by environmentalists and social activists to the South Goa District Collector against the contractor appointed by the PWD to trim the trees.
“It’s not true that the contractor is cutting the trees. They are cutting only the branches. There are people who come to the authorities to trim trees since they run the risk of falling during the rains. But, there are others who are opposing the exercise. I really do not know what is to be done,” he said.
Citing an instance, the Environment Minister said a group of citizens had requested the trimming of trees on the Nuvem-Raia road while another group insisted that the trees should not be trimmed. “This is a practical problem. Emotions of the people are involved. Everything has become dangerous now. In God, we trust. Tree cutting has become a delicate issue,” he added.
