MARGAO: Farmers from the ‘Carbot Cantor Mascasana Khazan of Loutolim’ are expressing relief and optimism after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued notices to the authorities concerned in connection with their petition challenging the contentious new high-level Borim bridge project in Goa.
Moreover, in a significant development, the NGT found prima facie evidence of potential adverse environmental impact, leading to the admission of the application filed by farmers of Loutolim and Borim villages. This decision has energized the local farming community, who view it as a crucial first step in their battle to preserve their agricultural heritage and the delicate ecosystem of the khazan lands.
“We have full faith in the judiciary and we are euphoric that justice will be done,” said Albert Pinehiro, Chairman of the Tenants Association. He also praised their advocate’s role before the tribunal.
The farmers' elation stems from the NGT's recognition of several key issues, including the project's potential violation of environmental clearance requirements and its impact on Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas. Once the NGT receives the replies from the respondents in connection with these issues, after scrutinizing the same, the tribunal will determine if further orders or directions are necessary.
At the heart of the dispute is the proposed alignment for the bridge. The applicants argue that the project covers an area of 2,27,800 square meters, significantly exceeding the 1,50,000 square meter threshold that necessitates prior Environmental Clearance (EC) under the EIA Notification 2006.
A crucial point of contention is whether the EC was required before starting the land acquisition process or proceeding with other legal requirements. The farmers’ legal team cited a prior Supreme Court judgment that emphasized the need for EC prior to land acquisition.
The case also brings to light concerns about the project’s impact on CRZ areas, with the applicants stating that 1,62,118 square meters of the project fall within CRZ boundaries. Furthermore, the farmers question the necessity of constructing a new bridge when an existing one is functional, suggesting that alternative alignments could have been more environmentally friendly.
Adding complexity to the issue, the farmers point out that the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) designates the affected paddy fields as part of the khazan ecosystem, which is subject to special protections. They argue that this designation should be a crucial factor in the project's evaluation.
The farmers believe all these factors will be debated upon before the NGT which has scheduled the next hearing on October 22, 2024.
The farmers also point out that this issue extends to land use planning as well. The farmers question the reliance on the Regional Plan (RP) 2021, which they claim misrepresents the true nature of land use in the area.
It may be recalled that in response to these concerns, the Loutolim Panchayat, following a past gram sabha resolution, has written to the government not to issue zoning based on the RP 2021, as it incorrectly shows many agricultural fields as settlement areas.
As the case unfolds, the farmers also touched upon the government’s stated commitments to promoting agriculture and protecting khazans, which they view it to be aligned with their cause and hope they will influence the outcome regarding the bridge’s alignment as they hope their khazans will be saved so that they can preserve it for posterity.