Goemkarponn Desk
LOUTOLIM: The construction of NH-17B (NH-566), which is intended to act as a dedicated coal transportation route from Mormugao Port to factories in Karnataka, has been met with strong opposition from the locals of Loutulim and Borim. Locals fear that the project, which entails acquiring land in these villages, will have disastrous effects on both the environment and their communities. As a result, they are outraged.
Documents uncovered by concerned citizens indicate that the building of NH-17B not only puts the livelihoods of the local fishers near Vasco City in jeopardy, but also threatens to uproot over 4,000 indigenous residents of Loutulim and Borim.
In addition, the project threatens the health of the people who live in Vasco and opens the door to the devastation of important ecosystems for coal transportation and storage, such as the khazans of the Zuari, Cumbharjua, and Mandovi rivers.
The government’s priorities, according to critics, are skewed, favoring the interests of coal corporations over the welfare of regional communities. Authorities are pushing through the controversial NH-17B project despite current infrastructure plans, like the repair of the Borim bridge, which could sufficiently meet transportation needs for the foreseeable future. These plans are allegedly based on false premises, such as exaggerated traffic projections.
Villagers’ dissatisfaction has been exacerbated by the ongoing land acquisition process, as they claim Public Works Department (PWD) representatives are violating their rights and disobeying the law. Allegations of dishonesty and misconduct have been made against the PWD for allegedly initiating survey and demarcation activities without following the proper procedures, despite legal mandates requiring environmental clearances.
Before any further action is done, the villagers demand strict adherence to environmental regulations and due process in response to these grievances. They demand that PWD officials and the government uphold the law, safeguard their property, and put the needs of the local community ahead of those of large corporations.
The people of Loutulim and Borim rally support from all over Goa, vowing to protect their way of life and calling for unity against perceived injustices and corporate influence encroaching on their homeland. They declare their commitment to protecting their communities from the dangers of unbridled industrialization and issue a warning against any attempts to compromise their rights and means of subsistence.
