MARGAO: In a display of solidarity and determination, villagers and farmers of Loutolim held a ‘Ladainha’ prayer service, seeking divine intervention to save their agricultural fields from the proposed new high-level Borim bridge.
On Sunday evening, several farmers and villagers gathered at the Holy Cross, just metres away from the eco-sensitive khazans where the bridge is planned, seeking strength and guidance in their struggle to safeguard their livelihoods and the land they hold dear.
Xavier Fernandes, former Loutolim Sarpanch, spoke on behalf of the farmers, expressing their deep-seated fear of losing their agricultural heritage. He voiced the collective anxieties of the farming community, emphasising their connection to the land.
Farmers and villagers of Loutolim have continuously expressed objections to the land acquisition for the proposed Borim Bridge through protests and petitions, including filing with the National Green Tribunal. Speaking to reporters, farmer Agostinho Costa said, “After several protests, we are now seeking the intervention of the almighty God. In our prayers, we have asked for blessings for the government officials so that they consider the farmers’ plea and scrap the project.”
Antonio Pinheiro, another farmer, added, “We have been cultivating our lands for decades, with no other source of income besides agriculture. We pray to God for a resolution to this issue.”
San Francisco Fernandes, Sarpanch of the Loutolim panchayat, along with panch member Joana Fernandes and others, also participated in the prayer service.
