Team Herald
MARGAO: As the next hearing before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on January 7 approaches, farmers from Loutolim and Borim are hopeful for a positive outcome regarding their petition against the proposed high-level Borim bridge. The farmers are also preparing to escalate the matter further by filing a petition before the High Court in a bid to secure a stay on the controversial project.
Albert Pinheiro, President of the Carbot, Mascasana & Bebdo Tenants Association in Loutolim, expressed optimism, stating, “We have high hopes that there will be a stay either from the NGT or the High Court. As of now, besides the one attempt by the PWD and consultant to enter our fields to carry out the demarcation, there has been no further movement on the ground.” Meanwhile, the farmers remain focused on maintaining their khazan fields, a centuries-old agricultural system that is now under threat.
The upcoming NGT hearing follows the tribunal’s December 2 session, during which it reserved its order on the farmers’ plea for a stay on land acquisition proceedings related to the bridge project and adjourned the next hearing to January 7, 2025. At the last hearing, the Goa government had sought additional time to file its reply, leading to the adjournment. The tribunal did not grant the farmers' immediate prayer for a stay, leaving the Public Works Department (PWD) to file its reply by the next hearing.
In their petition, the farmers argued that the current design and alignment of the proposed bridge on NH-17B (NH-566) disregards the presence of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas, forest regions, and the environmental sensitivities of the site. They contended that the project threatens eco-sensitive areas and khazan lands, which are vital for the local community’s livelihood and environmental balance.
The petitioners highlighted that the Zuari River, the largest in Goa, traverses multiple talukas, including Tiswadi, Ponda, and Salcete. They emphasised the significance of the river’s saline wetlands, reclaimed approximately 4,000 years ago by indigenous communities.