Team Herald
VASCO: RDA Minister Alina Saldanha, at a meeting with officials of the Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL), has asked them to remove the barricade erected at the level crossing number 41 near Cuelim until the road over bridge is constructed.
The meeting follows complaints by Cuelim villagers that that the level crossing has been arbitrarily closed by KRCL officials, thereby preventing villagers from cross over the tracks.
They complained that their agricultural activities have also been hampered as machinery cannot reach the fields till the time KRCL opens the level crossing.
After the meeting, a site inspection was conducted by the officials along with Alina and people.
“It is a major issue affecting Cuelim villagers as the level crossing 41 that connects Cuelim with Nagoa. This has hampered the agricultural activities as machinery cannot reach the fields. Also, school children have to walk for nearly 45 minutes to reach the main road to take the school bus. In case of emergencies, an ambulance cannot reach their residences in time,” Alina said.
William Fernandes, a senior citizen, explained to KRCL officials the situations prevailing prior to laying of the tracks and the problems and the hardship that are faced by the villagers after laying of the railway tracks.
“Working women have to walk a long distance during late hours on their way back home, from Nagao to Cuelim via Consua, which is unsafe,” he said. He appealed to the MLA and the KRCL Officials to expedite the opening of LC-41 and put a stop to the hardship faced by Cuelim villagers.
Later, KRC official Joseph George assured Alina and the villagers that he would convey the needs of the people to his higher-ups. Further, George also promised that he would provide solution to the problem by putting in place some facility at the LC-41 to enable the villagers and 2 & 4 wheelers to cross safely, until the final decision on road over bridge is taken.
On water logging of the fields, the KRCL officials assured to desilt all the channels on KRCL property, which they said, would be taken up annually prior to the monsoons and after informing the local representatives.
