MARGAO: A delegation of farmers from Loutolim met with Union Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari to express their strong objections to the proposed alignment for the new high-level Borim bridge and bypass road project. The farmers said they are against any alignment that would encroach upon their khazan lands, which they are striving to preserve.
For the past nine months, the farmers and residents of Loutolim have been protesting against the Borim bridge plan, with the protection of their khazans as the central issue. Local fishermen, who also depend on these lands, have joined the opposition, along with farmers from Borim village on the other side of the bridge.
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Following Thursday evening’s meeting, Gadkari urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to engage in dialogue with the affected people to resolve issues surrounding the Rs 500 crore bridge project. The Union Minister also announced that another inspection would be conducted on Friday, involving PWD engineers and the project consultant to see what can be done.
Albert Pinheiro, Chairman of the Loutolim Tenants Association, said that the meeting was also attended by CM Sawant and Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira (who is the local MLA).
“The Union Minister informed us that the width of the bridge would be reduced; however, our farmer members requested that we do not want the bridge to cross over our khazan because even if any part of the khazan is acquired and a service road is made, our khazans will be finished forever. The Union Minister then informed us that tomorrow, the engineers and the consultants would visit the site again to explain how they would proceed,” said Pinheiro. Pinheiro added that while the exact time for Friday’s inspection had not been set, the PWD would contact them in the morning with scheduling details.
