MARGAO
Opposition to the land acquisition for the new Borim bridge has gained momentum after a delegation from Loutolim village Panchayat, led by Sarpanch Joanna Fernandes, called on Nuvem MLA Alexio Sequeira with a plea to halt land acquisition for the proposed highway and bridge construction without prior consultation.
After attentively listening to the delegation, MLA Alexio Sequeira expressed his willingness to discuss and deliberate on the issue regarding the alignment of the new bridge with officials to find a solution. However, he emphasized his support for the new Borim bridge due to the poor condition of the existing one.
While meeting with the MLA to request relevant authorities to cease land acquisition by the PWD/MORTH for the proposed highway and bridge construction, and to respect the rights and interests of the Village Panchayat and its residents, the delegation further urged Alexio to request authorities to initiate a dialogue with the Panchayat and the affected people. They emphasized the need to share project details, conduct a public hearing or consultation to gather public opinions and suggestions about the project.
The delegation also requested the MLA to urge authorities to explore alternative options for the project, such as bypassing the village panchayat area, minimizing land acquisition, and mitigating the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the project.
The Sarpanch-led delegation submitted a memorandum to the Nuvem MLA, drawing his attention to the concerns raised by the gram sabha members during the extraordinary gram sabha organized by the panchayat on October 29.
Pointing out that the village Panchayat and Loutolim residents were never informed or consulted about the project or the alignment selection process, the memorandum stated that according to the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, the Village Panchayat has the power and duty to provide for the construction, repair, and maintenance of public roads, bridges, and other public works, subject to the approval of the Government or any other empowered authority.
The Village Panchayat also has the right to be consulted and informed by the Government or any other authority before undertaking any project or scheme affecting the Panchayat area or the interests of the inhabitants,” the memorandum added.
The memorandum further stated that no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study is in place, adding that the acquisition procedure commenced without an environmental impact assessment, neglecting the potential environmental consequences.
“The Consultant did not prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) or an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report. The filling of low-lying khazans was not assessed for its potential impact on flooding and agricultural losses,” it further stated.
