FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Team Herald
SAO JOSE DE AREAL: Late Tuesday night Goyant Kollso Naka held a midnight protest at the Sao Jose de Areal railway level crossing as railway authorities attempted to carry on with the work of laying a second track. The work is the part of rail road double tracking which has seen stiff opposition in Goa.
Protestors gathered in hundreds at the level crossing and confronted the railway officials. The work had already started with a strong police force. They asked why there was no intimation or any details given to the local panchayat. Railways officials claimed that they have an exception and the land that belongs to the Railways has been excluded from the panchayat areas.
Abhijit Prabhudessai of GKN said if the land falls under the revenue areas of the village then all the rules of the land apply to the Railways.
Venkat Subayya, Project Manager of South Western Railway said they are not doing any illegal work at the place and asked for any orders to call the works illegal.
The protestors insisted that the work be stopped. “The authorities are taking advantage of the courts as they are comparatively slower in COVID-19 pandemic,” Prabhudessai said, referring to their appeals in the court against the project.
The Collector had drawn an order allowing the work of laying second track at three level crossings at Sao Jose De Areal, Davorlim and Chandor with security personnel.
“If you are doing the work lawfully then why do you need police to go ahead with the work?” Diana Tavares of GKN asked. The South Western Railway has been allowed to have 25 police personnel while executing the work.
At the time of going to press, the GKN members were still at Sao Jose de Areal continuing their protest.
The Collector’s order is to facilitate shutting of the road between midnight and 5 am. The work of Chandor level crossing will be done on November 2 and at Davorlim on November 9.
