Team Herald
MARGAO: Ahead of the February 17 National Green Tribunal (NGT) hearing on the petition filed by Loutolim farmers opposing construction of the new Borim bridge, , the State government has expressed hope that it will receive a favourable verdict and contended that it had reduced the amount of land to be acquired for the bridge.
“The NGT is currently reviewing the new Borim bridge project, and its ruling will be binding on all stakeholders, including the government. I have always listened to the sentiments of locals and have engaged in discussions with them on multiple occasions. I have also initiated meetings with the Chief Minister and Union Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari to ensure their concerns are addressed,” Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira, told reporters here on Tuesday.
“Following these discussions, the initial land acquisition of 1,20,000 sq. metres has been reduced to approximately 70,000 sq. metres, minimising the impact on local landowners. I remain hopeful that the NGT’s decision will reflect the interests of the people while ensuring a balanced approach to development,” he added.
The farmers of Loutolim and Borim have been raiisng concerns over the bridge construction’s impact on khazan land, which is designated under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). While the CRZ Notification permits certain activities like standalone bridges, the farmers argue that CRZ khazan land regulations specifically allow only agriculture and pisciculture. “The CRZ Khazan aspect has been completely ignored. These lands are meant for agriculture or fish farming, not construction,” said Albert Pinheiro, President of the Carbot, Mascasana & Bebdo Tenants Association in Loutolim. The farmers have also alleged that the authorities are manipulating project dimensions to present the area as below the 150,000 square metre threshold, thus evading mandatory clearance under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006. Based on their calculations, they allege the area consumed by construction would total 227,800 square metres.