MARGAO: Loutolim residents and farmers have now written to the Union Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari conveying their strong objection to the proposed acquisition of the fertile khazan lands in Loutolim for the construction of new high-level Borim Bridge along with approaches across Zuari River along with bypass road to the bridge.
They demanded that the proposed acquisition be dropped and a proper study be conducted to reveal the ground reality. They urged Gadkari to review all the alternatives and select the correct alignment for the bridge and the approaches over Zuari so that their khazans and their indigenous livelihoods, are protected along with the environment.
“The Loutolim khazans are a series of interconnected wetlands located in the village of Loutolim These are part of the larger Zuari River estuary and are home to a variety of plants, animals, and fish. Furthermore, they lie within the CRZ and are an important source of food and water for agriculture as rice is cultivated on these khazan lands during the monsoons and fish is cultured here during the dry season,” said Maria Monteiro e Fernandes.
As conveyed by the Loutolim gram sabha, the letter spoke about how the villagers and panchayat were not consulted about the project nor was any particular scientific study done by the authorities concerned to understand the impact of the proposed project on this eco-sensitive region.
The farmers also pointed to the recent exercise of State government officials who had visited their village to seek their opinion on the draft agricultural policy. They pointed to the irony given that the government on one hand is urging them to cultivate in order to become ‘Atmanirbhar’ and on the other hand wishes to acquire their productive fields. The farmers said they will lose their identity without their land. They further referred to a comment by a State cabinet minister about the proposed highway being built on stilts and said the affected eco-sensitive area won’t be able to bear the pressure.
The farmers reiterated that the project would cause irreplaceable damage and destruction of the khazans and the ecosystem they support due to contamination and pollution. They also pointed out that farming and fishing are the backbone of Goa’s economy and that they depend on yield from the fields for their survival.
“We have seen recently how unplanned development has led to widespread loss of habitat, disruption of livelihoods, caused floods, destruction of the indigenous way of life and decay of a vibrant ecosystem,” Fernandes added.
It is to be noted that this letter was also sent to the Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) for the new Borim bridge.
