MARGAO: Locals who live along the existing single railway track, and are forced to endure various hardships due to the ongoing work to lay more railway tracks, have called out the hypocrisy of the authorities for making lofty statements on World Environment Day, given that the same authorities paid no heed to their cries when they tried to stop numerous age-old trees from being chopped by the railways for the track expansion project.
The locals felt betrayed when trees located in front of their houses, which were planted by their ancestors too were felled mercilessly. Some of these trees used to support the livelihood of the locals as well.
Many of these trees were located at ground level, while the railway track is placed on an elevated embankment of four to five metres height.
What shocked the locals further is that the Margao Deputy Collector had granted permissions to the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) to fell 1,384 trees from Majorda to Pale, which is the operational
occupation area of the Indian Railways. When the
locals had complained to the Forest Department, they were asked to take up any disputes in ownership claims with the Revenue Department.
The locals disputed the claim and pointed out that the tree which belongs to tthe villagers was even bearing fruit, and they asked the railway officials to show ownership proof to support their claims. Locals also asserted that the area in question is presently not owned by the Indian Railways.
Goenche Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) General Secretary Olencio Simoes lamented that despite the tree cutting licence issued by the Forest Department had lapsed in April 2023, hundreds of fruit bearing and forest trees have been mercilessly hacked away to make way for the double tracks. He questioned why no action was forthcoming against the repeated gross violation of laws by the concerned authorities.
“When villagers questioned the RVNL officials about the ownership of the land in connection with the tree cutting exercise, RVNL informed them that 24 metres width from the centre of the existing track is required for double tracking. In short, it means that the entire hamlet at Mollo, Pale village consisting entirely of traditional dwellers like toddy tappers and fishermen will cease to exist,” said Orville Dourado Rodrigues, Goencho Ekvott (GE) founder.
