MARGAO
Discussions on the controversial new High Level Borim bridge, which took the centre stage in the Goa Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, seemed to have not rung any good news for the beleaguered farmers of Loutolim waging a battle to save their khazan fields.
On the contrary, discussions over the issue have not only increased the fear and anxiety amongst the farmers, but have thrown up a host of questions for the government to answer. In fact, post-discussions in the House, farmers were categorical in asserting there cannot be a trial and error method in building the bridge through the khazans at the cost of their livelihood.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s statement on the new Borim bridge after Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai raised the issue in the Assembly on Tuesday has raised questions amongst farmers how will they eke a living after the three years when the government has promised to compensate them during the bridge construction.
The only positive outcome of the discussions, farmers say, is the Chief Minister’s promise to hold an interaction with the farmers cultivating the khazans of Loutolim.
Chairman of the Loutolim Tenants Association Alberto Pinheiro said the discussion on the issue in the Legislative Assembly has only increased their fears and anxieties over the bridge.
“The CM says that the famers will be compensated for three years during the construction of the bridge. What about after three years. How are the farmers supposed to eke a livelihood after three years. Has the government any plan to provide alternate khazan fields to the displaced farmers to continue agriculture and whether any such khazan land is available in the area”, Alberto questioned.
He added: “The government says they will desilt the khazan land after the bridge work. But, the question that remains unanswered is whether desilting can be done in khazan. You cannot do trial and error method on the livelihood of the farmers. The government should understand that they cannot make a new river or a new khazan. You can build many bridges, but you cannot rebuild nature. People must have settled near the river centuries ago to pursue agriculture and fishing”.
While welcoming the Chief Minister’s announcement that he would hold interactions with the farmers to resolve the issues, Alberto said, “Let the Chief Minister come and clear the fear and anxiety in the minds of the farmers. He is the Chief Minister. If he can convince the famers on the khazans, it is up to the farmers to take a call. Let the Chief Minister come for the interaction with the local MLA and Environment Minister Alexio Sequeira. Let them hold a power point presentation with the consultation”, he added.
Reminding that the farmers were invited for discussions with Union Minister for Road Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari, Alberto says the farmers will accept an invitation for an interaction with the Chief Minister if that helps to resolve the issue. “We had made it very clear during our discussions with Nitin Gadkari, that we don’t want the bridge over our khazans. Our stand remains unchanged. Let us wait and see what the Chief Minister has to offer to the farmers”, he added.
