Team Herald
MARGAO: Angry residents of Arrosim village questioned Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) officials who had visited the village over the manner in which the Railway contractor had executed underground cabling works through private, Comunidade and Fabrica properties.
The locals were upset about the destruction of century-old storm water drains, which flow towards water bodies on either side of the existing single railway track. In its place, concrete troughs have been laid purportedly to lay the armoured cables.
The RVNL officials along with police from the Railway Protection Force and Verna Police Station, accompanied Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim Village Panchayat members, Goencho Ekvott (GE) and other residents during an inspection of the entire excavated route within Arossim village.
Verna Police Station Police Inspector Diego Gracias was also shown the gross damage of ancient storm water drains mostly through private properties.
RVNL Manager Anwar Basha acknowledged that there have been land use violations. And added that they will submit their proposal with adequate sketches and as confidence building measures will immediately fill back all the illegal trenches dug by their personnel. Locals also acknowledged that the joint police force dealt with the tense situation well.
The GE members along seven panchayat members which included Sarpanch Xavier Savio Pereira, Deputy Sarpanch Arilinda Almeida, Panchas Mervilla da Costa, Mackina Rodrigues, Jessica D’Silva were present. Panchas Larson Saldanha and Deva Naik also expressed their support to the villagers.
Earlier, the RVNL Manager Anwar was questioned by GE founder Orville Dourado Rodrigues about the manner in which the RVNL has brazenly executed the underground works despite the fact that the contractor had no clear title to the land, and without taking the consent of the local panchayat body.
Congress leader Olencio Simoes took the RVNL to task stating that the villagers will not allow their land resources to be used to destroy the very existence of the inhabitants by the Railways.
GE Secretary Ella Mascarenhas pointed out to those assembled that the villagers were unitedly opposing the destruction of the storm water drains since May 2022, wherein these storm water drains were so vital to avoid flooding during the monsoons and that how for the very first time, some villagers had to experience flood waters entering into their homes during the monsoon this year.
Attorney of Fabrica Celiano Antao admitted that the committee was preparing for a long legal battle to assert its right over the land which houses the heritage structure of St Lawrence Chapel and that the Fabrica has inwarded its objections to the local panchayat. Local leader Anthony D’Silva stated that the villagers will not bow down to pressure tactics being used by the railways and that the villagers will resort to all legal means to protect their inheritance.
