MARGAO: Farmers from Loutolim have criticised the Public Works Department (PWD) for submitting an environmental plan to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) for the new high-level Borim bridge and approach roads project without consulting them.
They have questioned as to why the PWD is applying for CRZ permission at this stage, after having already initiated the much-opposed land acquisition process.
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Albert Pinheiro, Chairman of the Loutolim Tenants’ Association, which has filed its written objection to the project, stated, “We are still opposing and will fight to save our khazan fields come what may. We will knock on every door for justice, as we have been doing legally till date.”
Regarding the PWD’s submission to the GCZMA, Pinheiro questioned the credibility of some of PWD’s proposals such as the use of high-density plastic materials, and called for a demonstration of their effectiveness in khazan fields with soft clay, to prove if it can actually work given the local conditions.
He emphasised that their petition to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) will address these issues.
It may be recalled that one of the biggest grievances by the farmers is the PWD’s alleged disregard to the importance of khazan lands and alleged that the said khazan lands have been not been properly represented in the PWD’s plans.
Criticising the department’s approach, Pinheiro said, “The PWD is trying to do post-remedial measures which may not be of any effect. If they are so sure of what they want to do, let them give an open powerpoint presentation to the villagers concerned.”
He pointed out that the CRZ clearance should have been obtained before starting the acquisition process or finalising the alignment.
“The government cannot justify what they have done till date and there is not a single intimation to the local comunidade or to the farmer tenants. If it was so, this situation would not arise,” Pinheiro added.
