MARGAO: The residents of Cansaulim, Arossim and surrounding villages are up in arms over renewed development works undertaken by the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) for double-tracking works.
“Centuries-old storm water drains, especially the area opposite the historic St. Lawrence Chapel in Arossim were dug up to lay cables for the railways,” said Orville Dourado Rodrigues, founder of Goencho Ekvott (GE).
Locals took to the streets and gathered in front of the 16th century chapel that has been facing a threat for the last few years with regard to the railway expansion plans.
While interacting with the RVNL staff, the locals along with Captain Viriato Fernandes made a strong appeal asking them not to destroy age-old storm water drains, which would cause severe flooding in the area. The example of flooding in Bengaluru was cited as well.
Local resident Ella Mascarenhas questioned the RVNL workers as to how no thought was given about what would happen when the drains are destroyed and how the villagers would have to bear the brunt of the consequences when it starts flooding.
GE also arranged a meeting with the local residents and the panch members of the Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim (CAC) village panchayat on the issue. CAC Sarpanch Savio Pereira, Deputy Sarpanch Arilinda Almeida, Panchas Larson Saldanha, Mervilla da Costa and Mackina Rodrigues were present for the meeting along with Orville Dourado Rodrigues, Olencio Simoes and others from GE.
GE briefed the CAC panch members about the destruction caused by RVNL to their ancient storm water drains, which they said will cause flooding in the monsoon and cause irreparable damage to the heritage Chapel of St Lawrence at Arossim and the nearby residences.
“Despite repeated appeals to the technical staff to conduct surveys through the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records (DSLR) since there are cases that the underground cabling network is being laid in private, Comunidade and Fabrica properties without even obtaining the consent of the owners/tenants,” said Rodrigues.
He further said, “Goencho Ekvott condemns such brazen trespassing which will invite legal action and may result in an undesired law and order situation, which the railway and local authorities themselves will be held responsible for.”
What has left the local residents particularly upset is that they have to come to the streets every time to protect the chapel and surrounding areas from getting destroyed. They lamented that they are dealing with numerous health problems caused by the railways passing by their houses daily and leaving behind coal dust.
