Team Herald
MARGAO: The farmers of Borim and Loutolim village, who have been hopeful of a solution to the ongoing impasse over land acquisition for the new Borim Bridge, have faced a jolt.
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a notification on Thursday to acquire 34 hectares for the construction of the new high-level Borim Bridge across River Zuari.
The Central government recalled that the first notification was published on October 19, 2023. The final notification was issued after these objections were heard.
It may be recalled that the farmers had sent written objections which were dismissed and then had filed appeals against that decision, which had been rejected as well by the Competent Authority.
Speaking on this development, the Water Resources Minister (WRD) Subash Shirodkar said that the new bridge planned at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore will be ready within next 2 to 3 years. The Minister, who is the BJP Shiroda MLA had earlier played down the opposition to the new Borim bridge project.
Rainbow Warriors hopeful of relief from NGT or SC
MARGAO: The NGO, Federation of Rainbow Warriors (FRW), which is assisting the farmers of Borim and Loutolim in their petition before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the bridge’s construction, have expressed confidence that they will find relief before either the NGT or the High Court (HC).
FRW Convener Abhijit Prabhudesai, reacting to the final notification issued by the Union Highway Ministry for land acquisition, said, “Residents of Loutolim and Borim have already raised this issue before NGT and the next hearing is on October 22. Locals are confident that NGT or HC will declare the notification as illegal. The judgment of Supreme Court in P V Krishnamoorthy matter has decided that notification under section 3D of National Highways Act cannot be issued unless all environmental and forest clearances are first obtained.”
The green activist added that they farmers are waiting for the NGT hearing but are also prepared to immediately approach the HC if needed.
“We have no doubt that this notification shall be summarily dismissed by appropriate judicial authorities. This notification clearly proves that the executive is not concerned about judicial decisions, even when pointed out. The executive is reduced to a blind slave of the greed of robber barons, leading our species and the rest of the life forms on this planet to extinction in a few decades,” Prabhudesai added.
Loutolim farmers disappointed,
but vow to fight with renewed vigour
MARGAO: Farmers in Loutolim have expressed deep disappointment and renewed determination following the recent notification issued by the Union Highway Ministry for the construction of the new Borim bridge.
This latest development has galvanized the agricultural community, prompting a flurry of responses and planned actions.
“We are disheartened but not defeated,” said a leader of the Tenant Association of Carbot, Cantor, Macasana & Bebdo, Loutolim.
“The final notification is a setback, but it only strengthens our resolve to protect our ancestral lands.”
The farmers, who have been opposing the project for over a year, are now gearing up for
In response to the notification, the farming community is preparing to file an appeal in the High Court (HC).
“We have received the order on our objections filed with the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA), along with their report,” the farmer representative explained. “Very soon, we will be filing an appeal in the high court. These are the fields which our ancestors had toiled to make, and we will knock on the doors of justice till the last.”
The farmers' reaction is tinged with both frustration and hope. They express disappointment at the cursory dismissal of their objections, noting that the CALA report simply states “Objections disallowed” without elaborating on the reasons. Despite this, they remain optimistic about their legal recourse.
The NGT, set to hear the matter on October 22nd, had previously indicated that an EC might indeed be necessary for the project. The tribunal has requested explanations from relevant authorities before making a final decision, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing dispute.