Vasco: Goa Against Coal member Olencio Simoes along with other affected villagers on Friday met the Deputy Collector of Vasco and railway officials at a personal hearing in connection with the proposed railway track doubling project.
Locals claimed that authorities failed to answer their questions about why railways need a second railway line from Majorda to Vasco. The locals strongly opposed the procurement of land from Cansaulim, Pale and Issorcim for Margao to Vasco double-tracking project and South Western Railway in Majorda-Cansaulim-Pale-Issorcim-Dabolim-Chicalim-Vasco.
Olencio and others quizzed the officials over this proposed land procurement from coastal villages. Locals pointed out that the double- tracking will hamper their traditional houses and that they will have to face sound and air pollution due to the frequent movement of trains.
Olencio warned of launching a mass agitation if the plans are not dropped by the railway authority.
Olencio stated that in October 2018, residents of Velsao, Pale and Issorcim had opposed the procurement of land but that almost a year later; the Dy Collector has been issuing notices in connections with the request for settlement of double railway lines in their villages.
“This has created panic and mental harassment to the people of coastal villages” added Olencio.
He pointed out that they asked the officials how many locals from the village use the local train. “When hardly a few villagers use the train, then why do we need a second railway line,” said Olencio.
He also pointed out that there are traditional and heritage houses, some of which are more than hundred years old and that they have already developed cracks due to the vibrations caused by the heavy coal wagons and high frequency of trains passing by.
He further added that coal trains transport 23 tonnes per minute, which is 3,800 tonnes of coal per train.
“Nine coal trains passes from Vasco to Hospet daj,y. This has created devastation to the people of our villages and destruction of our ancestral houses, properties and the livelihood of traditional fisherman. Farmers are anxious about their fields and the impact on the land, “added Olencio.
He claimed that it has already started affecting their culture, surroundings, heritage structures, youth, greenery, animals, habitation etc.
These villagers along with Olencio had attended the public hearing at Tilak Maidan on March 20, 24 and 27, 2017 for the enhancement of berths 5A and 6A, dredging of approach channel and inner basin and re-development of berths 8, 9 and barge berth at MPT respectively .
“The draft Environmental Impact Assessment of Mormugao Port Trust prepared by WAPCOS limited of all three projects clearly mentioned the second railway line is required for transportation of coal, the MPT plans to increase the berths to 5 numbers , so that it can enhance the coal handling from 12 to 50 million tonnes per annum” Olencio added.
When contacted, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldhana who was present for this meeting with the Deputy Collector, said that she will stay with the local people’s decision. She added she will also not give her ‘No Objection Certificate’ for the land procurement from her family property for the purpose of railway track doubling project, which she feels will hamper their local houses and will create various types of pollution.
“If the double railway line is constructed then coal pollution will spread all over our village. This will cause serious health hazard like cancer, respiratory disorders including asthma, tuberculosis etc. Therefore at this hour of time, increasing the frequency of coal trains will accelerate the respiratory problems. Besides, we do not have rail over bridges at our villages and therefore we will have to wait for longer periods at railway crossing gate at Velsao, Cansaulim and other crossing along the proposed line,” added Olencio.
