VASCO: Aggrieved locals from South Goa, along with Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha, had a special meeting with Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant to express their concern and to inform about the issues they will face if the doubling of South Western railway track project materialises.
The Chief Minister gave a patient hearing to the locals and ordered for a re-survey and inspection of the railway track area to know the impact of this project on the people.
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Speaking to Herald, Orville Dorado Rodrigues, member of the Villagers’ Action Committee against Doubling of the South Western Railway, said that next week on Thursday there will be a joint inspection along with the officials from the South Western Railway, PWD, Land Survey Department, Saldanha, local village representatives and villagers.
Rodrigues said that during the meeting on Friday with the Chief Minister, it was learnt that Sawant wants a detailed inspection of the stretch where doubling of track is likely to affect the locals. There will be videography of the inspection done to get all the necessary details of the affected areas such as houses etc. He added that distance measuring on the survey plan will also take place.
Rodrigues further revealed that the CM directed the locals at the meeting to immediately file objections to land acquisition to the notice issued by the Deputy Collector of Mormugao. During this meeting, Saldanha, Velsao panch Ashok Souza, Issorcim panch Nandita Dayal Pinto along with Dr Cidalia Bodade and others were present.
Later Sawant told a section of the media that people from the villages of South Goa along with Saldanha met him with regards to the doubling of railway tracks project. “There were some concerns of the local people which were discussed during the meeting in which the railway officials were also present. There will be re-survey and joint inspection will be held shortly in which PWD officials, Land and Survey officials, South Western Railway officials, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldhana and locals will be present,” he said.
Sawant added that during the meeting no decision had been made but added that inspection will be done with proper videography to know what might be the impact of this project on the people and if it is found that some impact is happening to the people then further necessary instructions will be given.
