FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: A tense situation persisted in Velsao on Tuesday, as the local villagers refused to leave the site where the Railways want to carry out double tracking work.
Attempts made by the railway workers to carry out the work of laying a second track were halted by the locals who have been demanding that the railway officials first show them land ownership documents. The railway officials stated that they are not answerable to the locals and would return to continue the work on Wednesday, with the locals stating that they would continue to protest on Wednesday and every day after that too.
Incidentally, the locals had gathered at the site after Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) had informed them the previous day that their senior officials would meet them on Tuesday morning at 9.30 am in the presence of the Velsao-Pale-Issorcim panchayat.
The locals had to wait two hours at the disputed
site with no senior officials turning up.
Goencho Ekvott (GE) founder Orville Dourado Rodrigues reiterated that the RVNL should first hand over a certified copy of the ownership documents for the land in their possession before trying to recommence the dumping of construction and industrial waste in their right of way, which the locals have used for generations.
The police arrived later, based on the complaint filed by the villagers at the Verna Police Station. The locals also showed the police the documents issued by the Revenue Department, which they said proved their claim of land ownership.
The police personnel assured the agitated villagers that the matter would be reported to their higher authorities and gave the locals hope that the construction activity would be suspended. However, no sooner did the Goa Police personnel exit the site, RVNL employees entered the site with their trucks loaded with construction waste, but the villagers put up a brave front and ensured that the trucks left the area. While speaking to media persons, local Sarpanch Maria Diana Gouveia assured the locals that the panchayat would support their fight.
A villager, Minguelino Mascarenhas, who is in his late 90’s, lamented about how the quality of life had deteriorated for those living by the tracks and how the senior citizens are suffering while many of their neighbours, including the younger generation, have moved out as they can't bear the noise from the multiple trains that pass by the tracks daily.
It was decided that the villagers would approach Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and also seek legal recourse.
‘People cannot live in their own homes - environmental, social impact of track expansion not assessed’
MARGAO: Former Minister Alina Saldanha strongly criticised RVNL and the government for their actions in laying the second railway track right next to the houses of the locals. She questioned the lack of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and social impact assessments, highlighting concerns for villagers’ lives and living conditions.
She further questioned the necessity of a second track for coal transportation from Goa to Karnataka and urged the government to prioritise people’s welfare over destructive projects. When asked what the further course of action will be if RVNL continues with the work, Saldanha vowed that the villagers will continue to protest. “We will sit here, let them drop mud on us and crush us to death. But we won’t move,” she added.
“Secondly, I would also like to know from the government whether the government has taken a survey to find out what is the present status of the houses along the first track, houses that have suffered due to the impact of the first track on the houses,” said Saldanha. “The residents of these various villages along the track are on the road. Does the government elected by the people care for the welfare of the people?” Saldanha added.
“They (the railways) want to dump mud here (protest site) to raise the level to lay the second track. But look at the proximity where the second track will come to the houses that exist. Are you (reporters) surprised to see this house with a big lock? Why is this happening? Because people cannot live in their own houses. So, what is the government doing throwing us out on the roads? This is not the way,” said Saldanha.
