Team Herald
MARGAO: In the wake of alleged Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) violations, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) is facing an investigation after a complaint was filed by Goencho Ekvott (GE) regarding its activities at Velsao’s Mollo creek. A taluka level committee, led by Mormugao mamlatdar, conducted a joint inspection on Wednesday, with a multitude of locals bearing witness to the unfolding environmental crisis.
Accompanied by a group of government officials, the team recorded physical measurements and videographic evidence. Their findings will soon be presented in a report, reinforced by the Directorate
of Settlement & Land Records (DSLR) map, which overlays structures with dimensions and the High Tide Line (HTL) on the DSLR
survey plan.
This follows a prior inspection conducted by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Zone Authority (GCZMA) and the Water Resources Department (WRD) last month.
Speaking about the imminent disaster facing the villagers of Velsao, Pale, and neighbouring communities, Orville Dourado Rodrigues, GE Founder, decried RVNL’s disregard for the floodplains’ topography. He accused RVNL of callously dumping hundreds of truckloads of construction debris and mud into the creek and water canals that have long served these villages. Rodrigues emphasized that the GCZMA inspection report demanded the removal of the mud alongside the existing railway tracks before the monsoon season arrives.
Highlighting another grievous violation, GE Joint Secretary Olencio Simoes revealed that despite the expiration of the tree-cutting license issued by the Forest Department in April 2023, numerous fruit-bearing and forest trees have been felled to make way for the double tracking project.
Andrea de Souza, a member of Velsao’s Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), expressed her profound disappointment at the lack of positive change in the creek’s water quality despite numerous visits by concerned officials. She further raised the alarming issue of high fish mortality rates affecting over 20 recorded species, urging swift action to restore the three water bodies along the canals to their original condition. Failure to do so, she warned, would have irreparable consequences for the village’s flora and fauna, a cherished heritage passed down from generation to generation.
Camilo Souza, Vice President of Goenche Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE), discussed the dire consequences of mud dumping in the creek. The restriction of tidal water movement has caused stagnation, depriving locals of their livelihoods during the impending monsoon season. Souza criticised the local MLA for not exerting enough pressure on RVNL to clear the mud and construction debris, clearly visible a mere seven to eight centimetres below the water’s surface, despite its previous depth of eight to ten meters. The officials present during the inspection acknowledged this alarming revelation.
Undeterred by false FIRs filed against its members and concerned villagers, GE reiterated its unwavering commitment to fight for environmental preservation. Highlighting the imminent risk of a man-made disaster in the monsoon season, the organization implored Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to act swiftly in the best
interest of Goa’s residents, ensuring that citizens do
not fall victim to devastating floods.
