Team Herald
MAPUSA: It appears that the migrants have taken a liking for Goa, with several of them landing at the Tivim Railway Station on Monday and that too in large numbers.
On Monday, another group of migrants was spotted getting down from a train at the station.
A week back, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had asked the District Collector to probe the mass arrival of labourers by train number 12742 (Patna-Vasco Express) and their whereabouts thereafter.
The President of Tivim Block Congress Committee, Shivdas Kambli, informed Herald that every year these migrants come to Goa during this time and go back in the month of May.
“This is not a new scene to the people of Tivim. This has been happening since the last three years. Every Monday we see these migrants coming out from the railway station. They claim to be working either on the fishermen’s trawlers or at the sand extraction sites. They come to Goa in July-end and return back in May. They are not staying here and mostly move towards the coastal area. They take a bus to Mapusa bus stand,” said Kambli.
Talking to another local it came to light that close to 5,000 migrants landed in Goa on Monday.
“Usually they come in small numbers. When we ask them why they are coming they say for construction work. Now, this time a few claim they have come to work on the trawlers and get the nets ready as the fishing season will commence from August 1,” he said.
It may be recalled that on July 24, the office of the mamlatdar of Bardez had directed the talathis of Tivim, Colvale and Sirsaim to acquire information regarding the thousands of labour class youth and ladies arriving at Tivim Railway Station.
They were asked to revert back positively for further course of action in the matter latest by July 29.
When contacted the Mamlatdar of Bardez, Laxmikant Kuttikar said it was revealed that the talathis might have submitted their report but he would have to check to confirm the same.
