Team Herald
MARGAO: There was yet another showdown between the villagers of Velsao-Pale-Issorcim and the South Western Railway (SWR) at the court of the Inspector of Survey and Land Records (ISLR) in Margao.
While SWR has finally filed its replies to support its claims of land ownership, Olencio Simoes, General Secretary of Goencho Ekvott (GE), stated that they were insufficient and the locals needed time to respond to the same, which will be done at the next court hearing scheduled for April 15.
He added that SWR had submitted their replies based on the Cadastral Plan but that the Cadastral Plan of Velsao is missing from records, and so on what basis did SWR make these claims? Moreover, why was the Cadastral Plan not attached with their replies?
“The government departments were granting permissions to the railways for construction work but were directing the common man to run from pillar to post to first prove ownership of their land as per the prevailing rules of the Revenue Department. The railways were backed by the authorities while the locals were helpless,” lamented Olencio.
Locals pointed out when they complain to the police, the cops instead of hearing them out, try to have the locals put behind bars and unofficially ask the locals to cooperate with the railways to end the long-standing dispute.
It is to be noted that the SWR has claimed ownership of land on either side of the tracks, which the landowners are contesting.
GE Founder Orville Dourado Rodrigues then lambasted SWR for the horrors they are facing due to the ongoing work. He also questioned what will happen during the monsoon given that the old waterways and drainage system have been destroyed and the shower on Tuesday exposed the dangers that lie ahead where it would be the locals only who would have to bear the brunt with water likely to enter their houses as the railways have raised the height of the area in front of their houses so much so that it is as high as their compound walls and gates.
He added that these are ancestral heritage homes.
Locals in Primeiro Vaddo explained how the railways have literally cordoned off the only entry point of their houses and the locals have to exit through the neighbour's property. Villagers said that they could not take their vehicles out from their compounds and the cars that were parked in front of their houses on the public access were also lifted and shifted by the railways without citing any rule to do so.
Others in Issorcim spoke about how hundreds of trees in a valley were damaged when railways dumped truckloads of mud from the top while remaining trees were felled indiscriminately.
Locals from Mollo questioned how railways got their names registered in the Form 1 and 14 survey ownership documents when the matter was and is still being contested in court, and the speed at which that work was done at a time when the confrontation at Mollo between the railways and locals was at its peak.