Team Herald
VASCO: Voicing their strong opposition to the proposed railway track doubling project, Cansaulim and Velsao locals fear that their heritage houses, land and village serenity would be destroyed.
The locals have demanded that the Chief Minister scrap the project and instead construct a railway overbridge, which they feel is the need of the hour.
Addressing to media persons, Simon Souza from Cansaulim said the project will not benefit the Cansaulim villagers in any way but there will be adverse issues which local people will have to face if the project materialises.
He said there are heritage houses, which need to be protected for posterity but once the track is doubled these houses will receive irreparable damage.
Souza informed that the villagers have submitted memorandums to Deputy Collector, Chief Secretary and to the local MLA Alina Saldanha to scrap the project.
“We locals want that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should take cognisance of the issue and scrap the project, which has been unanimously opposed by the villagers of Cansaulim and Velsao” he said.
Velsao sarpanch Henrique D’Mello said, “The government should not bring the project, which is strongly opposed by the people. People are opposing this project as it will create noise and air pollution besides heritage houses will also be damaged.”
Velsao panch Ashok Souza opined that instead of the project the government should build railway over bridge for the residents of Velsao and Cansaulim. Villagers have to wait for 15 – 20 minutes to cross over each time the railway gate closes. Many times children and senior citizens pass under the train bogie which is dangerous. Recently, a senior citizen lost her leg while passing under the train bogie” he added.
