MARGAO
Chairman of Tenants Association, Alberto Pinheiro has said the farmers are all apprehensive that the proposed high level new Borim Bridge, if it is proposed to be built on stilts, will do irreparable damage to the khazan lands, since the bridge alignment is passing through the centre of the khazans.
Saying that the beleaguered farmers are also in favour of a solution, Alberto said let the government come with an alternative and convince the farmers that the khazans will not be destroyed by the bridge.
“The present alignment shows that the bridge is passing through the centre of the khazans. If there is any alternative and the farmers are convinced that the alternative will not result in destruction of the khazans, they may agree. Let the government first work out a solution which will not destroy the khazans,” he said.
The Tenants Association chairman lamented that instead of exploring about the alternatives, the Public Works Department is trying to bulldoze with the demarcation of the fields for the land acquisition.
When the media drew his attention to Minister Sequeira’s statement that the bridge will be built on stilts, Alberto shot back, “Since the bridge is proposed through the centre of the khazans, it will affect agriculture in a big way. They plan to acquire land for 60-metre wide bridge and roads. We don’t want the bridge to come over our fields, crossing through the middle of the khazans.”
Saying that farmers will call on Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira and convince him that the farmers are only protecting their agricultural fields, Alberto said the Environment Minister and the government should work out an alternative that would save the khazans.
Oppose bridge to support agriculture, senior citizen’s message to govt
MARGAO: With a walking stick in his stand, senior citizen Domingo Costa led the farmers in demanding that the government stay out from the khazan agricultural fields, fearing that the proposed bridge will do irreparable damage to the age-old khazans, their source of livelihood.
Domingo’s message to the government was clear that they are not in favour of the bridge at the cost of agriculture.
Most of the farmers pointed out that the khazans were being cultivated by their ancestors over the years and the present generation has only carried forward the rich legacy. “I have been cultivating these khazans since my childhood with my father. Our ancestors had protected these khazans. They want to build the bridge. We don’t want the bridge by destroying our khazan fields,” he said.
Farmers Lalita Fernandes and Antonette echoed similar sentiments. “I have been cultivating these khazans for around 60 years now since my marriage in Loutolim. We cultivate these fields for our needs. In the monsoons, we cultivated the khazans for agriculture. After the paddy harvesting, we use the khazan fields for pissiculture. This has been our only source of income,” she said.
The farmers pointed out that they were not notified by the PWD before the land survey team came for the demarcations. “Most of our people have gone for work. We all have come here to raise our protest against the demarcation and the bridge by destroying agriculture,” she added.
Villager Xavier Fernandes said the farmers and villagers are firm that they will not allow the PWD to enter the fields. “We will protect our fields at any cost. We will go to any extent to protect the fields,” he said, while questioning whether the PWD officials had any order mandating them to conduct the demarcation.
PWD caught on the wrong foot over CRZ permission
MARGAO: The PWD officials were virtually caught on the wrong foot after the farmers and activists questioned whether any CRZ permission has been obtained for the construction of the bridge.
When a PWD official pushed for the demarcation by saying the department is not doing any development, but is presently at the stage of land acquisition for the project, farmers fumed at the official demanding to know how come the PWD, National Highways ignores the CRZ norms, which is a Central law.
Activist Diana Tavares contended that the CRZ is a Central law which bars development in the khazan fields. A PWD official sought to counter by saying the department is not doing any development, but is only acquiring the land for the bridge, further saying they will see the provision at a later stage.
Activist Abhijit Prabhudesai said the PWD officials came for the demarcation without the backing of the law. “Section 3 of the National Highway Act has prescribed the land acquisition. The team wants to take up the demarcation without complying with the provisions,” he said.
He further pointed out that the Right to Fair Compensation Act mandates the acquiring department to serve two months notice on the land owners before taking up the demarcation and survey.
