MARGAO: Providing a letter copy of Public Works Department as a proof, ‘Goyant Kollso Naka’ (GKN) have claimed that the proposed new Borim bridge is only for transportation of coal from Mormugao Port to factories in Karnataka and pledged to oppose the project tooth and nail.
Addressing a press conference at Margao, Abhijeet Prabhudesai along with several other members of the GKN, including few representatives from Borim village, also demanded that the government should scrap the proposed NH-17 B project and related land acquisition, instead repair the existing bridge or build a low-level parallel two-lane bridge, without any additional land acquisition.
“It is very much clear from the letter of the PWD that the proposed Borim Bridge and its land acquisition, besides the alternative considered, is only for transportation of coal. However, we will not allow this to happen and will approach the Supreme Court if required,” said Prabhudessai.
He further claimed that this project will not only create an impact on the residences of Lotoulim and Borim, but will lead to major destruction of Goa, and mostly all those villages located in the vicinity of the Zuari river.
“There is a complete lack of transparency and the unholy haste with which the land acquisition proceedings are being forced on people,” he alleged.
Xavier Fernandes informed that GKN shall commence a state-wide agitation to force the government to respect and serve the needs of the local communities, and to stamp out permanently the greedy, unholy plans of coal corporations to make Goa a coal hub.
“Government’s document also reveals that the NH-178 construction will not only displace indigenous communities of Loutolim and Borim, but will also displace all the fishing community,” he said.
Zarina D’Cunha said that instead of catering to the people’s needs, all the seven alternatives considered by the government are for coal transportation from Mormugao port and destruction of villages and therefore GKN demands that all the seven alternatives be dropped.
Rahul Naik, a resident of Borim claimed that they were kept in the dark by the authorities despite requesting to throw light on the issue and land acquisition process.
