MARGAO
Residents and farmers of Loutolim on Friday upped the ante against the controversial new Borim bridge as they called upon the Member Secretary, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority to reject what they called the proposed illegal CRZ clearance of the huge khazan lands and CRZ areas in both Loutolim and Borim villages.
The residents along with the farmers on Friday submitted a memorandum to GCZMA Member Secretary strongly objecting to the grant of any CRZ clearances in Loutolim and Borim for construction of High Level New Borim Bridge along with Approaches across Zuari River along with bypass to Borim bridge.
Citing a host of grounds, the farmers demanded the rejection of what they termed as the faulty and inadequate site inspection report (Proposal) and refrain from granting any CRZ clearances until requests made under prayers B to D below are carried out.
They demanded that GCZMA ask the project proponent to carry out fresh traffic studies based on the present traffic (after the opening of the bridge at NH-17), and to prepare a fresh inception report and suitable alternatives, in consultation with the local communities, considering the repair of the existing bridge, the factual traffic figures, and aiming to prevent or minimize the impact upon CRZ areas and its inhabitants.
They further asked the project proponent to carry out a proper EIA/EMP study and prepare a report considering the CRZ areas involved in the project with the aim to minimize the impact on CRZ areas and ensure that representatives of 4,000 odd khazan farmers of Loutolim and Borim are heard in all future proceedings before GCZMA.
Asserting that the proposed development is impermissible under CRZ Notification 2011, the villagers pointed out that over 1,57,000 sq mts (almost 40%) of the lands proposed to be acquired are khazan lands, in which no development is permissible as per CRZ Notification 2011.
“The CRZ Notification 2011 states under para 8, sub-paraV (Areas requiring special consideration), sub-para 3 (CRZ of Goa), sub-para (v), “the mangroves along such as khazan land shall be protected and a management plan for the khazan land prepared and no developmental activities shall be permitted in the khazan land;”.
It is thus clear that khazan lands come under a special category distinct from CRZ-I to CRZ-IV, and that no developmental activities can be permitted. While permissible activities are listed in CRZ Notification 2011 for CRZ-I to CRZ-IV, no permissible activities are listed for khazan lands”, they said.
They further pointed out that the proposed development is contrary to the objectives of CRZ Notification 2011.
Apprehending the destruction within the CRZ on a catastrophic scale and size, they said the proposal involves the destruction of over 1.5 lakh sq mts of CRZ area, which is unprecedented in terms of scale and size of the proposed destruction within the CRZ of Goa. They submitted that such massive destruction of CRZ areas in tiny Goa is not permissible just on the sole basis of the area involved.
They also feared the catastrophic scale of community displacement, irreversible loss of heritage, culture and economy of the indigenous communities. “There are seven Tenants Associations cultivating the khazans of Loutulim. While the proposed construction will completely destroy about 15 hectares of khazans of Carbot Cantor Mascasana and Bebdo Tenants Association, the khazans of the remaining six Tenants Associations will also be gravely affected, making it financially unviable to cultivate these fields.
Over 4,000 indigenous residents, who are fully dependent on these khazans for their survival, will perish unless this proposal is rejected”, they said.
