Team Herald
MARGAO: Villagers from the Mormugao taluka’s coastal villages of Velsao and Cansaulim, who have been opposing the double tracking project, have pointed fingers at Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for the current mess.
They recalled how the Chief Minister had inspected the tracks over two years ago following which he had held a meeting with stakeholders in Panjim where he had assured that he would study the matter and find solutions.
At that time, they pointed out that the Chief Minister had even interacted with those, whose houses will be affected by the double tracking project and was shown how the villages would suffer in the process.
They asked: “What has the Chief Minister done to address the grievances of the locals? Why did he ignore them at a time when several government departments including the police too did not entertain their complaints?”
They pointed out that three persons, against whom the Vasco Railway Police filed offences earlier this week, were present for that meeting with the Chief Minister.
“Twenty-nine months and counting, we are patiently waiting for our Chief Minister to intervene. Are we not citizens of the State? If we have genuine grievances, who are we supposed to approach? In the interim period, false complaints have been filed against the villagers. It appears that the government only cares about completing the railway expansion, which is not benefiting us or Goa, if people are jailed, so be it,” said a resident.