Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa Legislative Assembly on Wednesday witnessed heated arguments on the controversial doubling of the South Western Railway line. Ruling MLA Alina Saldanha, who has been vehemently opposing the project, tabled a starred question seeking details on the procurement of land for doubling of the track, report on demarcation carried out last year, etc.
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With the discussion cut short, as the first hour of the business ended, the MLA supported by opposition lawmakers demanded completion of her starred question. However, with Speaker Rajesh Patnekar refusing to do so, the opposition MLAs walked to the well of the House demanding a half hour discussion on double-tracking. The Speaker refused the demand and adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
On resuming business of the House – Zero Hour – Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai submitted a letter to the Speaker stating that MLAs (opposition) demand a half-an-hour discussion on the issue. Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat also insisted that the House hold a half hour discussion.
The MLAs continued with their demand even as Saldanha refused to sign the letter. “The State government is acting as a puppet to Central government,” Sardesai alleged.
Earlier, during the discussion, Saldanha sought to know the date of the joint inspection by SWR and the authorities in Goa to which Revenue Minister Jennifer Monserrate replied September 15, 2019 to October 10, 2019. The BJP MLA then asked the minister the purpose of the inspection considering that the demarcation report was not yet ready. How could inspection be done without demarcation work? she said.
The ruling legislator also questioned whether the land owners, where the project is proposed to come up, were aware their land will further be ruined. “Major part of the property is private land. Has study been conducted on the proximity of the track to the adjacent home and its impact?” she further questioned. She pointed out that the land in Cortalim, being used for the controversial project is private land.
