MARGAO, May 17 -- Farmers opposing the proposed high-level Borim bridge through khazan lands at Loutolim are preparing to write to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister questioning why ecological safeguards now being extended to Mandovi and Zuari riverbank stretches have not been applied to khazan lands in their area linked to the Zuari river system.

The move comes after the Forest Department recently identified 6,729.54 hectares along the Mandovi and Zuari riverbanks as ecologically sensitive and forwarded maps and recommendations to the TCP Department for protection measures. Subsequently, the TCP Department initiated the process of identifying around 82 lakh square metres as No Development Zone under Section 39A of the TCP Act,...