Addressing media persons in Velsao on Thursday, Cortalim MLA Anthon Vas and others condemned Monday’s protest near the railway track. Vas said Velsao witnessed what he described as a “float parade” near the railway track, strongly criticising the manner in which the protest was conducted.
Social Worker Challenges Leaders to Debate
Social worker Roquezinho D’Souza challenged political leaders and others to an open debate on the issue. He questioned how the Railways’ name came to appear in the land records and why the concerned landowners allegedly failed to raise objections earlier.
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Context: Ongoing Land Dispute Over Double-Tracking
The protest is part of a long-standing dispute over the South Western Railway’s double-tracking project in Velsao, where villagers allege that construction has blocked traditional motorable access to more than 20 heritage homes. Residents assert they hold Portuguese-era title documents and matriz records, while the Railways claims the land has been in its legal possession for over a century—a claim locals dispute, noting Goa was under Portuguese rule until 1961. The ownership question remains pending before the Inspector of Survey and Land Records (ISLR) and the District Court in Margao.
