Team Herald
PONDA: The sword of Damocles is hanging over the head of a resident of Murme, Borim in distress as he fears losing his ancestral home to the new Borim Bridge project.
Tulsidas Naik, a resident of Murme, Borim, is left panicking because the officials have been frequently visiting his house to measure and value it for land acquisition related to the new bridge’s approach road. While he’s been informed that his house will be affected, Tulsidas denies receiving any assurance with regards to relocation or compensation.
Speaking to O Heraldo, Tulsidas said he inherited the house from his grandfather and father and has been living here for over 100 years. The uncertainty has forced him to spend sleepless nights, especially since the government has proposed a new Borim bridge and bypass road through Borim and Loutolim khazan.
Borim and Loutolim residents have approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) due to the loss of their khazan fields for the bridge. Despite the disruption and marking of his house and trees for the road, Tulsidas recalled that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant previously stated that no houses will be touched by the new bridge.
Rahul Naik, a friend of another affected house owner, Premanand Naik, mentioned that the Borim bridge case is currently pending in the NGT.
He believes that locals with houses in the area should not be harassed while the case is pending before NGT.