MARGAO: In a major boost to the locals of Velsao-Pale-Issorcim village, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and Water Resources Department (WRD) carried out an inspection of the ongoing railway expansion work at Mollo and gave a patient hearing to the villagers’ complaints of landfilling of water bodies, that residents fear will lead to flooding once the monsoon season hits.
While the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) officials were steadfast in their stance that they were not damaging the environment or water bodies and that the work being carried out is just an extension of the bridge, the locals conveyed to the authorities the various faults with the railway work and how the village will have to suffer the consequences.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The locals, Goencho Ekvott (GE) members, former Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha and environmentalists told the GCZMA officials that one side of the Mollo creek was in an extremely bad condition until Tuesday and they alleged that the Railway officials pumped out water during the night and before the inspection on Wednesday morning, so that a different picture could be portrayed.
It was also impressed upon the authorities that many fishermen and farmers are dependent on water from the Mollo creek and that their livelihoods are at stake.
They demanded that the authorities take immediate action and warned that the village would suffer much before the monsoon period hits even as farmers usually release the saline water in these months, which is meant to flow out into the Arabian Sea. However, given that the water pathways are blocked, the fields will be inundated soon.
GCZMA officials were also given a tour of these culverts and they later questioned RVNL about why so much space was being used by them if the matter was only about small expansion. GCZMA officials also raised concerns about the width of the water pathways and pointed out to the present obstruction of water flow. GCZMA also pointed out that the RVNL was supposed to remove the debris within 15 days and that has not yet happened. RVNL stated that the construction material would be removed before the monsoons begin. Locals however pointed out that RVNL allegedly gave false information to GCZMA stating that the work had begun less than a month ago.
GE member and complainant Olencio Simoes claimed that they were informed by the WRD officials that they had obtained proof of the floodplains being blocked due to the present railway work.
Saldanha, who is also a former Environment Minister, also confronted the Railway officials for showing a court judgement about the work that was underway in Chandor village and asked them to furnish documents that show that Railways owns the land in Velsao where the work is being carried out.
She also questioned the GCZMA officials if the Railway officials are above the CRZ laws and gave the example of how water has already started reaching the houses of locals who live nearby, in the dry summer season. “The situation would definitely worsen when it starts raining,” she pointed out. However, Railway officials insisted that all works carried out were as per the Railway’s rules and that they are continuing the work in Mollo as they haven’t received any stop-work order.
