SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Outraged over the government’s decision to issue the final land acquisition notice during the festive season, locals from Velsao, Arossim, Majorda and surrounding areas have questioned the government for dismissing their objections and for failing to hold a public hearing.
“When Goans across the globe were celebrating the feast St Francis Xavier, a most insensitive government machinery published a 12-page Land Award notification for the Land Acquisition for the proposed Special Railway Project (Hospet - Hubli - Tinaighat - Vasco da Gama Doubling) which had commenced with the issue of the notification in the Gazette of India dated February 17, 2020,” Goencho Ekvott (GE) founder Orville Dourado Rodrigues said.
“In all 2,719 objections by persons/institutions had been filed through a raging Covid-19 pandemic, but the competent authority deemed only 66 of these as valid, over 80% of which were filed through our efforts,” he added.
GE criticised the manner in which the other 2,653 objections were rejected and pointed out that they were given the excuse that the ‘competent authority’ had the mandate only for land acquisition. GE questioned who would look at all other important aspects regarding the quality of life of the residents.
“What about the consequences of rakes speeding in excess of 100 -120 kmph that is bound to cause collateral damage in the form of irreversible damage to existing settlements along the route, fugitive dust and noise pollution, degradation of underground water resources, destruction of fertile farmlands, forced division of villages, backfilling of rivulets and stormwater drains, hill cutting, denial of the only access to landlocked compounds, etc,” Rodrigues added.
He lamented that these issues were not seen as important by the authorities and were conveniently overlooked.
“The least that the government could do was to conduct a Public Hearing to give a fair chance to these 2,653 objectors and others to be heard. The special projects are time bound and the land acquisition process should have been completed within 12 months,” he said.
“But it is over 33 months that the ‘competent authority’ is conducting its most insensitive process,” Rodrigues added.
GE also referred to the Supreme Court’s directions and recommendations regarding the double tracking project.
“So why is the Government of India insisting on going ahead with this ill-conceived mega project without even conducting an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report? The one submitted earlier was just a ‘cut, copy paste job’ and full of comical errors!” he said.
“When couple of petitions are being heard in the High Court, wherein the South Western Railway (SWR) is unable to satisfactorily submit documents requested by the honourable judges causing unnecessary delay in pronouncing the Order, while construction works have commenced in full earnest in community/private land and Right Of Ways,” Rodrigues added.
“Isn’t the wellbeing of our people who toil and live off the land not important to our government? Is the tourism industry which is still sluggish post-Covid, but the mainstay of Goa’s economy, not be affected by the import of coal laden with heavy metals from Australia and other countries through our once verdant countryside? Why doesn’t the Chief Minister, cabinet and MPs not stand up for the people of Goa? Why are they being so spineless?” Rodrigues asked.
