Borim bridge demarcation: As farmers hold their ground, PWD forced to explore alternative route

Core committee members representing the Loutolim farmers, who met PWD officials.

Photo Credits: The Goan

MARGAO
All eyes are focused on the site inspection to be carried out at Loutolim on Tuesday morning to explore the possibility of working out a new alignment for the new high-level Borim bridge.

Farmers, who have been agitating against the present alignment passing through the fragile khazan fields, will also assemble at the field at Loutolim in the morning.

The decision to hold the site inspection on Tuesday was taken at a meeting a delegation of Loutolim farmers had with a team of PWD officials, headed by Principal Chief Engineer, Parsekar. Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira, who represents the Nuvem constituency, also attended the meeting.

After the meeting, Chairman of the Tenants Association Alberto Pinheiro told the media that the PWD officials insisted on constructing the new Borim bridge through the Khazan fields, which was strongly opposed by the delegation of farmers.

He said the farmers maintained that the khazan fields are eco-sensitive zones and any attempt to interfere and tamper with the fields would spell doom for the khazans. “We insisted there cannot be any construction activity through the khazan fields. We explained that these fields are fragile and any interference will only destroy the age-old fields,” Alberto said.

The PWD officials tried to hold another round of presentation, but it did not find favour with the farmers. To break the stalemate over the bridge alignment, a team of PWD officials will reach the site on Tuesday morning to work out a new alignment, whether the bridge can be built on the periphery of the khazans, instead of taking it through the middle of the fields.

Alberto said the farmers have not given any assurance to the PWD officials that they will agree if the bridge is taken along the road. “There could be farmers who may not agree to the alignment which will destroy their khazan fields. This situation could have been avoided in the beginning if the PWD had taken the farmers into confidence. But, the PWD relied on consultants from outside the state instead of seeking feedback from the local farmers. These khazans have been in existence for centuries now. Any attempt to interfere with the fields will destroy the eco-system,” Alberto warned.