MARGAO
Government’s plan to build a high level new Borim bridge over river Zuari went haywire after the villagers of Loutolim in one voice rejected the land acquisition proposal on Sunday as they feared that the alignment shortlisted by the PWD, National Highways will destroy the village eco-system, including two lakh square meters of khazan fields.
The villagers unanimously rejected the land acquisition proposal at the extra-ordinary gram sabha meeting, saying the alignment finalised by the National Highways is part of the plan to connect the Borim bridge to the Mormugao Port to facilitate coal transportation.
Substantiating their claims, the gram sabha members referred to a letter written by the PWD Chief Engineer, seeking completion of the bridge on priority in order the connect the bridge to Mormugao.
The members pointed out that the high level bridge proposed by the PWD, NH is intended for coal transportation and not for the benefit of the Ponda-Margao road users.
As requested by the Loutolim village panchayat, a PWD team comprising of an Assistant Engineer, Junior engineer and the Consultant attended the gram sabha meeting to give a power point presentation, only to face a volley of questions from the agitated locals.
The team was questioned over the urgency with which the PWD is moving ahead with the land acquisition, when the PWD is mandated to hold a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study. The team could not reply to the agitated members when they insisted on the DPR report and the EIA study.
The gram sabha members comprising of Xavier Fernandes, Ramiro Mascarenhas, Blaze Britto and other others demanded to know how the report compiled by the PWD has not made any mention that the approach road to the Borim bridge from Loutolim will destroy around two lakh square meters of khazan fields and devastate the fragile eco-system around the Carbot, Cantor and Vatlaim khazans.
After the team of officials completed the power point presentation, the gram sabha in unison rejected the land acquisition proposal. They pointed out that alignment seven has been finalised by the PWD in order to facilitate coal from the Mormugao Port.
Social activist Abhijit Prabhudesai, who was invited for the meeting, lamented that documents accessed by the activists, do not make any mention of the Khazan lands. “The EIA is mandatory, but that the government has gone for the land acquisition before the DPR and EIA shows the urgency to build the bridge for coal transportation. The Chief Engineer’s letter stating that the alignment seven will shorten distance to Mormugao Port and to build the priority goes to show for whom is the bridge meant for”, he added.
Sarpanch Joanna Fernandes said the gram sabha has rejected the land acquisition proposal for the new Borim bridge, saying the Panchayat would communicate the decision to the concerned authorities including the PWD and the Land Acquisition officer. She said the Panchayat would stand by the villagers and will not allow the destruction of the khazan fields.
A PWD official told the media that the resolution adopted by the gram sabha will be conveyed to the higher ups, saying he has no power to scrap the bridge or the approach roads.
