MARGAO: The Chairman of the Loutolim Tenants Association, Albert Pinheiro, emphasised that he conveyed to the government at the meeting held with PWD officials and bridge consultant, that they will not accept the proposed new Borim bridge to be built over their khazan fields. He added that the farmers insist that the land acquisition notification be dropped.
“At the meeting, the PWD gave a PowerPoint presentation of all the seven alignments. Again, as the Chairman of the Tenant’s Association, I made it clear that we do not want the bridge crossing our khazans. After scrutinising all seven alignments, the MLA requested the engineers to come out with an alignment which will save the fields as well as save houses and ensure no environmental damage is caused,” said Pinheiro.
“The engineers were asked to prepare the alignment plan by December 11, where the plan would be shown and discussed. So till then, our position is status quo, and we are restless till the acquisition is dropped,” Pinheiro said.
He also referred to an earlier meeting that the tenants had at the residence of Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequeira, who had called the Chief Engineer in their presence.
“The MLA told me that I should take five representatives of our association to have a discussion regarding the alignment.
The MLA also informed me that the Sarpanch and the Panchas would also be there for the meeting,” said Pinheiro.
Pinheiro also referred to their protest, the gram sabha and how the farmers had filed objections to the government after the land acquisition notification showed 92 fields being acquired under different survey numbers
