Team Herald
MARGAO: Railway Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) is facing fresh allegations of illegal tree cutting and encroachment in Issorcim, with the local landowner Luna Pereira, reporting that railway contractors were cutting trees in their family property in the village, close to the tunnel area where double tracking work is underway.
He stated that when he questioned the railway workers about their permissions from the forest department, they had already felled a tree. He added that by the time he returned with his phone to document the activity, the workers had left, raising concerns that more trees in the area could be cut next. Luna attempted to alert the authorities, calling the forest officer, who was occupied with other work, and the Range Forest Officer (RFO), whom he was unable to reach. He then sent photo evidence and other relevant details to the RFO.
It may be recalled that in December, Luna’s brother, Bruno Pereira has also accused RVNL of indiscriminately dumping excavated soil into the valley below and encroaching over 100 meters landward into their family property. It was pointed out that there has been no proper demarcation of this area despite repeated demands by the village sarpanch. The Pereira family has refused to accept compensation for their land acquisition, maintaining that without demarcation by the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records (DSLR), no work should be allowed to proceed.
Issorcim has been a key site of opposition to railway double-tracking, with residents documenting extensive environmental damage. They had then flagged large-scale destruction caused by hill cutting, which buried a freshwater spring, destroyed forest cover, and made agricultural land uncultivable. Villagers also reported that truckloads of excavated soil were dumped into a valley, further damaging the ecosystem.
The issue has also been brought before the Inspector of Survey and Land Records (ISLR) Court in Margao, where affected villagers, including Bruno Pereira, have formally recorded their objections. The court has held two hearings in January, with a third scheduled for mid-February. Pereira has emphasized that RVNL’s activities continue unchecked, with contractors dumping soil on tree canopies in his property without any official property demarcation. Villagers remain resolute in their opposition, asserting that these actions violate both legal requirements and environmental protections.