PANJIM: The residents of Loutolim on Friday urged the Goa coastal authority to reject the illegal CRZ clearance of huge khazan lands and CRZ areas at Loutolim and Borim villages for the construction of the proposed new Borim bridge, along with approaches across the Zuari River and a bypass road to the bridge.
Villagers, in a representation to the member secretary of the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), strongly objected to the granting of any CRZ clearances in Loutolim and Borim villages, pointing out that the proposed development was not permissible under the CRZ Notification of 2011.
The villagers argued that the Loutolim village panchayat and affected communities were never informed or consulted about the necessity of the project or the alignment selection. The selection
of the alternatives was done in 2017 when the consultant had not even prepared any Detailed Project Report or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, and in complete ignorance of the CRZ areas and implications.
The villagers demanded that the project proponent be asked to carry out fresh traffic studies based on the present traffic (after the opening of the 8-lane new Zuari bridge on NH-66) and to prepare a fresh inspection report and suitable alternatives in consultation with the local communities. This should consider the repair of the existing bridge, the factual traffic figures, and aim to prevent or minimize the impact on CRZ areas and its inhabitants, the villagers said.
They further demanded that the project proponent should carry out a proper EIA/EMP study and prepare a report considering the CRZ areas involved in the project, and to ensure that the representatives of the 4,000-odd khazan farmers of Loutolim and Borim are heard in all future proceedings before the GCZMA regarding the new Borim bridge.
