Fresh tension has surfaced in Velsao after villagers accused railway authorities of blocking a traditional right of way at Primeiro Vaddo through ongoing double-tracking works, allegedly leaving several households ef fectively landlocked even as the ownership of the land remains under legal scrutiny. Residents said the ac cess, traditionally used by farming families for daily movement, agricultural activity and emergen cies, was blocked during the course of the railway works, triggering anger and fear among those liv ing in the area. Villagers al leged that the activity was being carried out without resolving the long-stand ing dispute over land ownership. A local resident said the action had cut off an access that families have relied on for decades. “To day they have blocked a right of way. This is a right of way we have been using right from my ancestors’ time. We are farmers and we have land, and we have documents clearly stating that our land is up to the railway track,” he said.
“We have submitted those documents, but the Railways have so far failed to produce any document of their own. It is surprising that despite this, they are still carrying out illegal works,” he added. Another resident, Sandra Rodrigues, expressed anguish over what she described as repeated and forceful attempts to shut the traditional pathway. She said villagers had ex hausted all lawful avenues but had received no relief, de spite placing their land ownership documents on record before the court. “This is not the first time our access has been blocked. There have been continuous attempts to close our traditional pathway, and now this latest forceful action has been imposed on us even though the matter is before the court. Despite submitting all our documents, there has been no respite for us,” she said. The issue has also drawn a sharp response from Goencho Ekvott (GE). Its Joint Secretary Olencio Simoes condemned the government for what he termed a breakdown of govern ance in the Cortalim constituency, alleging that illegal railway works were being allowed to continue unchecked at Velsao. “Rail Vikas Nigam Limited and South Western Railway have commenced double-tracking work without estab lishing lawful ownership of the land or completing any legal acquisition process. The activity is being carried out despite the ownership of the land not having been deter mined through any valid legal process,” Simoes said. He pointed out that the Velsao Village Panchayat had issued a stop-work notice seeking clarification on the na ture and legality of the works being undertaken. As per the Code for Engineering Departments issued by the Railway authorities, such clarification is mandatory. However, he al leged that RVNL neither replied to the notice nor complied with it, and instead continued with the work. Simoes further stated that the question of ownership of the land is pending before the Court of the Inspector of Sur vey and Land Records (ISLR) at Margao. When the matter is sub judice, he said, any construction activity on the dis puted land is unlawful and amounts to contempt. Questioning the silence of the district Collector, Simoes alleged that it amounted to tacit approval of illegal ac tions. Citing provisions of the Goa Land Revenue Code, he said land vests with the State unless ownership is prov en through a valid grant, aforamento or land acquisition award, none of which, he claimed, had been produced by the Railways. Simoes urged the Chief Minister and the Governor to intervene urgently, halt the works with immediate effect and ensure that the rule of law is upheld before irreparable damage is caused to the rights and livelihoods of Velsao’s residents. Among those who also spoke to the media during the interaction were local residents Ponciano Moraes and S Coelho.
