How long can you forcibly take land for double-tracking? Villagers are bent on making this a fight to the finish

Is there no fairness, no decency in the manner in which the South Western Railways decides to acquire land of the people, literally behind their backs? 

And as we have seen, the “Competent” authority, which is the Deputy Collector Mormugao, almost on orders to execute the job of crushing people’s opposition and clear all hurdles to land acquisition has already passed an order on May 19 exactly 11 months after inviting notice for objections, literally handing over 60,177 square metres of land to the Railways.

Villagers of Velsao-Pale, Cansaulim and neighbouring areas are absolutely horrified to know (through Herald) that the Railways has planned a further acquisition of land in these areas by keeping them totally in the dark. The Railways in its Gazette notification in June 2021, has listed a proposal to acquire other pieces of land for the project, inviting objections within 30 days. These lands are located in Curchorem, Cacora, Davorlim, Velsao, Causaulim and Arrosim.

WHAT KIND OF A CRUEL JOKE IS THIS? AND THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANY LAND AND ANYBODY WITH NO NOTICE

Now, look at what locals are calling the ‘hoodwinking tactics’ are played out. A gazette notification is issued but not in the large dailies of the State. It is unlikely that any of the villagers, most of them very elderly with minimal access to the internet, will be able to download the notification. More so when they have no idea that such a move has been made, giving a mere 30 days for objections. 

NOTICE TO ACQUIRE LANDS AND INVITE OBJECTIONS DURING A CONSTANT COVID CURFEW? IT’S CLEAR WHAT THE INTENTIONS ARE 

This notice for acquiring additional land when villagers have fought tooth and nail against the earlier acquisition, and are still fighting for in the court, is like a red flag to a bull. People are hurt. And they are angry. And now in this fresh notification, they are not even aware which survey numbers are earmarked for acquisition. And they are seething.

HONESTLY, DID THE RAILWAYS AND THE GOVT OF GOA THINK THAT PEOPLE COULD BE DIVESTED OF THEIR BASIC RIGHTS AND NOT EVEN BE TOLD CLEARLY WHEN THEIR LANDS ARE GOING

We very well know what the official reply or “clarification” to this will be. It will be said that all procedures have been followed and it has been notified in the gazette. 

But the manner in which this has been done to ensure that people do not notice it rather than notice it. How can people object and prepare their case when more than a week out of the four weeks has passed and they don’t even know whose lands are going?

BUT PEOPLE WON’T GIVE UP? THERE ARE SENIOR LAWYERS FIGHTING THEIR CASE FOR FREE

Adv Carlos Fereira, the highly committed and respected Claude Alvares and the entire force of the Goa Foundation, with the fighting spirit of the locals have already taken on the legal might of the government for people’s rights. Of the 2700-odd objections to the earlier main acquisition, there are 65 landowners whose lands will be acquired across 51 survey numbers from Kallem to Margao and 52 survey numbers from Majorda through Vasco, through the villages of Cansaulim, Pale, Issorcim, Dabolim, Chicalim and Vasco. Of this, there are 36 who are in Goa. Of the 36, there is a group of 26 which has unitedly litigated under the guidance of the humanitarian lawyers who are fighting their case free, for the sake of Goa and the rights of Goans.

When the locals filed objections and wanted a hearing, they were repeatedly given dates saying Railways officials were not available. At one stage the Rail Vikas Nigam’s lawyer wanted a postponement till July 2021. But out of the blue, Deputy Collector Mormugao sends a message for a hearing on May 19 with less than 24 hours notice. The pandemic was at its peak with 30 to 40 deaths recorded daily at that stage. When those called did not turn up, barring one (Max D Souza of Velsao), an ex-parte order against the people and in favour of the Railways was passed on the ground that the people did not turn up.

Yes, dear Goans this is how land of 103 survey numbers marked for the acquisition of a total area of 60,177 square metres was cleared for acquisition. Today, it is them, tomorrow it could be you.

Is there no heart? No sensitivity? No justice? People are losing ancestral land and identity. That is priceless 

With the latest shock notice of acquisition, activists and locals have told Herald in clear unequivocal terms: “This is a fight to the finish. We are angry now. Let us see how this land is acquired in this manner.”