MARGAO
Loutolim-based social activist Xavier Fernandes has demanded to know why is the government and the PWD, National Highway running away from answering the queries raised by the protesting farmers and the Loutolim village panchayat on the issue.
Xavier told The Goan that the villagers and the Panchayat had raised a host of queries, including queries whether the PWD has prepared Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report or has obtained CRZ permissions before going ahead with the demarcation exercise.
“We have found during our agitation against the Borim bridge alignment that most of the time the government and the PWD has avoided replying to the points raised by the villagers. If the government or the PWD is confident of complying with the norms in force, why they are not producing the necessary permissions from the relevant authorities before carrying out the work”, he questioned.
He added: “We have charged with documentary evidence that the new Borim bridge alignment is intended for the transportation of coal. We have provided the documents stating that bridge alignment will help connect with the Mormugao Port”, he said.
Xavier said the approval letter from the Chief Engineer (NH, R & B), PWD to the Chief Engineer (P - 6) MORTH dated (4/5) / 2017 states that Mormugao Port is the 'priority', indicating that our government has scant regard for the local communities and their transportation needs, and is willing to sacrifice Goa for the greed of coal corporations. “The Government has cunningly concealed the fact that the existing Borim bridge is to be repaired shortly, which will fulfil people's need for transportation on Ponda-Margao route for next 20 years. The proposal to construct the new bridge is based on this and numerous other lies, such as grossly inflated traffic figures, and is therefore fundamentally flawed”, he added.
Xavier said the village Panchayat has already told the PWD that Environmental Clearances are required under CRZ Notification, Forest Conservation Act, and the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, which requires Environment Impact studies and assessment to be conducted first, before taking up the work of the bridge construction.
