MARGAO: Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira revealed that Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study will be conducted on the impact of the new Borim proposed across the River Zuari. “This assessment will gauge the environmental implications of the proposed bridge,” said Sequeira.
He also clarified that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has only issued notices to the involved agencies and has not yet made a final ruling on the farmers’ complaints.
The Minister emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring minimal disruption to local communities and the environment and said that his primary concern is to prevent the demolition of any homes and to minimize the impact on khazan land, a type of reclaimed agricultural land that is vital to local farmers. Despite these concerns, he acknowledged the necessity of the new bridge, expressing satisfaction that there is unanimous agreement on the need for it.
Sequeira also detailed his efforts to address the grievances of Loutolim farmers, who are worried about the potential loss of their land and added that he arranged several meetings between the farmers, the PWD Principal Chief Engineer and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. “These meetings led to an assurance from the Union Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari, that only the minimum amount of land required for the project would be acquired,” the minister said.
Sequeira added that there’s confusion regarding the amount of land that will be needed for the bridge. “The farmers have claimed that the PWD is set to acquire land admeasuring around four lakh square metres. The PWD, on the other hand, has said it may require a maximum of around 90,000 square metres for the bridge,” said Sequeira.
Sequeira further noted that the current Borim bridge is in a precarious condition, stressing the urgency of constructing a new bridge before the old one becomes unsafe. He cited the collapse of an old bridge in Karwar as a cautionary example, underscoring the need for timely action.
