MARGAO: In yet another confrontation to save their villages from the wrath of double-tracking, the villagers of Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim and Velsao-Pale- Issorcim were up in arms against the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) for cutting down age-old coconut trees in their lands.
On Wednesday employees of the RVNL had to be forced to stop the felling of trees even as they cut down coconut palms inside the compound of Goa’s ex-Chief Minister, (late) Dr Luis Proto Barbosa in Cansaulim.
Reacting to the incident, Goencho Ekvott (GE) members released a statement which said, “RVNL employees are indiscriminately trespassing private properties and felling trees without even consulting the landowners. Further felling of trees was prevented upon the timely intervention of our Vice Chairman Ashok Souza and other villagers. We will not tolerate such destruction of our environment.”
The villagers were aghast when they reached the spot as the news of trees being felled spread like wildfire. They expressed shock at the indiscriminate felling of coconut palms by the South Western Railway (SWR) contractor RVNL.
“Upon seeing us, the culprits fled from the scene, but not before felling two fruit-bearing coconut palms. It appears that the railways are adopting such tactics to tire out the residents, but what they don’t understand is that the peaceful villagers are losing their patience. The fallout of such actions will lead to a law and order situation, for which the authorities will themselves be responsible,” said GE founder member Orville Dourado Rodrigues.
Locals added that they are fed up with facing such constant harassment by the railways, which is pushing ahead with the double-tracking expansion project.
