MARGAO: Chandor and Guirdolim villagers on Saturday stopped trucks hired by Railway Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) passing through Church property to dump mud into the nearby lake for double tracking.
The villagers gathered at the site accused the concerned authorities of continuing with the work, despite a complaint being pending before the RVNL office. Police rushed to the site to avoid law and order problem.
It is pertinent to note that a few days ago the villagers had strongly objected to encroachment by the railway authorities in Guirdolim. The villagers had even threatened to take law into their hands if the authority failed to remove the debris dumped in the Church and private properties.
However, the locals on Saturday noticing the movement of several trucks carrying debris and mud stopped the work.
The villagers alleged that the trucks were moving through the Church property to dump the mud and debris into the nearby lake.
They questioned the concerned person present at the site and demanded documents with regard to the works, wherein the person stated that they have got all the permissions and have even acquired the land, including Church property. The villagers accused him of carrying out works without proper documents.
The villagers warned the railway authority of agitation, if it failed to stop the work.
Speaking to the media persons, Darwin Cardozo, Attorney of Chandor Church said, “The Railways is repeatedly trespassing through the Church property. Today trespassing through the Church property they tried to illegally fill the lake which is sure to cause problems. Also they were clearly told not to fill the water body earlier which is to be maintained for our future generations and the environment.”
Celine Coelho Furtado, former sarpanch and panch of Chandor-Cavorim condemned the act of Railways, and vowed that the villagers will not tolerate such illegalities in the name of development. “How come they fill the traditional lake and trespass through the Church property,” she questioned.
