PANJIM: With the Lok Sabha elections less than six months away and on the eve of taking charge, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira led villagers of Loutolim the Chief Minister’s residence on the contentious issue of the new Borim bridge alignment.
Though the Chief Minster was not present, Sequeira met and chaired a meeting with the concerned PWD engineers, the Loutolim sarpanch Joan Fernandes, and villagers, the minister said that as per the proposed new Borim bridge alignment, not a single house is going to be demolished in Loutolim village.
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Speaking to reporters at the meeting Sequeira said, “As of today, engineers do not know how many houses are going to be demolished, that is why we have given them time to study. They have been given alternatives. There are altogether seven suggestions. If you go by suggestion number seven, then not a single house is going to be demolished. But the alignment is going through khazan lands. That is why we have asked the engineers to study.”
According to Sequeira, the PWD engineers said that they will study the suggestions, have a physical study of the ground and meet again on December 11.
“We have given our suggestions to the engineers. They will study them in the next 15 days and we will see how best they have incorporated our demands which include saving of fields and minimal demolition of houses,” the Minister said.
Sequeira said, “We are in a situation where we want to save the khazan lands and also houses. We are also sensitive to the demands of the people. We will definitely like to see that minimum damage is caused to the environment. That is why we have given our suggestions to the consultant and the PWD Principal Chief Engineer.”
Stating that the engineers were open to their suggestions, the Minister said they would like to do a physical study of the ground to see how best they can incorporate their demands.
Meanwhile, Sequeira said that he will take charge as a Minister on Monday. Referring to the portfolios allocated to him, Sequeira said, “I have been environment minister for 10-12 years ago, so I have lost touch. Now laws and rules have changed. I will have a review meeting of departments. I have never been a minister for the Captain of Ports, Law and Judiciary or Legislative Affairs.”
