THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
Team Herald
VASCO: Villagers Action Committee against doubling of the South Western Railway (SWR) tracks on Monday expressed its surprise that despite the COVID-19 lockdown, the Central Government has gone ahead and decided to acquire people's land in the State for doubling the tracks in South.
“The Government must make it known to the people of Goa the benefits that will be accrued to Goa through this project,” committee chairperson Orville Dourado said addressing the panel’s first press conference in Velsao.
The committee comprises of villagers from Velsao, Cansaulim, Issorcim and Pale gave reasons as to why Arossim, Cansaulim, Pale, Velsao, Issorcim and Sancoale residents object to the doubling of the SWR tracks passing not only through these areas, but also through the villages of South Goa.
"Time and again, Goa is being used as a corridor, ignoring the fact that Goa is too small a State to contain such mega projects that will gobble the meagre land resources of the State, I am sure the Central Government is well aware that Goa is smaller in size than the Sindhudurg district. Has a study on the negative impact of this project on tiny Goa been made? It appears that the Centre has no respect for Goa and its people," Dourado alleged.
Committee secretary Belinda D'Souza said, “The existing SWR tracks were laid around 100 years ago. These tracks have literally divided most villages of South Goa into two halves and the senior citizens are forced to walk nearly half-an-hour to reach the necessary infrastructure on the other side of the tracks".
She claimed that school students refuse to walk and cross the tracks from under the parked trains to reach the other side on the way to school.”
"Who will vouch for the safety of our children? Why should we suffer so that some others benefit at the cost of our misery," she questioned.
"Presently to transport coal, 6-8 rakes are being used and if one rake is equal to 59 wagons that means around 472 wagons are filled with coal per day. If doubling happens, this number will probably double. More wagons means more coal and more pollution everywhere, as indicated by the Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AAQMS) installed at the behest of PCB at various locations to monitor the pollution levels. Can this magnitude of coal pollution be contained by the people of the villages of South Goa through which the SWR tracks pass without being its victim,” she asked.
“It is the responsibility of the Goa Government to protect us and our children on all counts and I request Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant to stop this project and find another route to fulfil the need and put an end to our misery," Belinda said.
With regards to the houses along the SWR tracks in the villages of Cortalim constituency and the rest of South Goa, Nandita Dayal questioned the fate of all these houses along the tracks.
"Doubling the tracks means more frequent and greater intensity of vibration. Will these houses be able to withstand this onslaught? In fact the Government will not have to demolish our houses; the houses will collapse on their own. The villagers want to know from the Government whether this mega destruction can be termed as development and if yes, for whose benefit is it,” she questioned.
Ashok Souza from Velsao said, "It is a fact that noise pollution on a regular basis can lead to constriction of the blood vessels causing all kinds of health-related problems, while coal dust pollution on a daily basis can lead to respiratory disorders. Does the government of the day care about the health and well-being of its citizens?”
"A country like Australia has reduced its coal activities due to these factors as it is concerned about the health and well-being of its citizens. How does the Government of Goa intend to protect our health after the doubling of railway tracks, which will get the tracks almost on the steps of most of our houses," he questioned.
“Are we supposed to die so some others may flourish? Allow us to live freely on our land without any fear. It is imperative that the Central Government finds an alternative route as this concern is about the wellbeing of the people of South Goa," he added.
