MARGAO
Stiff resistance by farmers and villagers of Loutolim on Tuesday forced PWD officials to beat a retreat and call off the demarcation exercise of fields for the proposed high-level new Borim bridge.
The three-hour long standoff ended after PWD officials and the huge police force mobilised for the demarcation exercise withdrew from Loutolim after the intervention of Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira.
Chairman of the Tenants Association, Albert Pinheiro called up the Nuvem MLA seeking his intervention to break the stalemate as the farmers were steadfast in their stand against the demarcation and the PWD not ready to back out.
It was only at around 1.30 pm that the huge police force was withdrawn and the PWD officials returned. Elderly farmers and women assembled at the Khazan field to lodge their protest over the proposed demarcation. They contended that they have sowed paddy in the fields and the demarcation exercise will destroy the standing paddy.
This is probably the third time that PWD’s planned demarcation exercise has come a cropper due to objections raised by the farmers for the acquisition of their khazan lands for the proposed bridge.
The farmers and activists led by Abhijit Prabhduesai and Diana Tavares confronted the PWD officials for what they claimed not following the proper procedure followed by the department as laid down under the National Highway Act.
They also demanded to know why the farmers and land owners, who had filed objections to the land acquisition have not been handed over the copies of the orders if the PWD is claiming the objections stands rejected by the department.
They also sought to know the fate of the rejoinders filed by the farmers and land owners if their objections have been rejected by the PWD department.
The farmers and activists were engaged in hectic discussions over the provision of law concerning the National Highway Act, which had laid down guidelines for land acquisition proceedings.
The PWD officials were heard requesting the farmers to approach the Competent Authority for resolution of their grievances when they raised questions relating to their objections and rejoinders.
