Team Herald
MARGAO: The village of Mollo, Velsao, witnessed fresh tension as Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) faced allegations of shifting land demarcation markers and felling a historic mango tree on Christmas Eve. Villagers have accused the railway contractor of gross violations, with incidents of trespassing and ecological damage sparking public outrage and intensifying opposition to Goa’s contentious double-tracking project.
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The property owner, Alberto Rodrigues, filed complaints with the Verna Police and the Deputy Collector of Mormugao, claiming RVNL workers unlawfully began construction on private property without completing the legally mandated survey under the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1969.
“RVNL initiated construction work on my property without fulfilling the mandatory survey process. This is a blatant disregard for legal protocols,” said Rodrigues in his complaint. “These actions constitute trespassing and unauthorized construction, which are punishable offenses. Furthermore, the work endangers my family and property.”
Villagers and activists claim that days after a government survey by the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records (DSLR) on December 20 and 21, land markers were shifted by up to four metres onto private land by railway workers. “We have video evidence of RVNL employees conducting a parallel survey and altering markers, a clear violation of land laws,” said Orville Dourado Rodrigues, founder of Goencho Ekvott, who is backing the locals.
Adding to the community’s distress was the destruction of a symbolic mango tree on Rodrigues’ property. Pedro Rodrigues, Alberto’s son, recounted the ordeal: “While my family and I were out Christmas shopping, workers cut down the tree using an excavator. My children and elderly mother were helpless at home as workers laughed while felling the tree.”
The mango tree held special significance, having been a focal point during anti-double-tracking protests on November 5, 2024. Its loss has been described by villagers as “heartless” and “provocative.”
Rodrigues alleges the felling violated the Goa Preservation of Trees Act, 1984, as RVNL did not obtain the necessary permissions. “These trees were integral to our property. Cutting them without permissions has caused ecological and economic damage,” he stated. Residents also accuse RVNL of encroaching on land in Survey No. 18/1 without proper demarcation and legal clearance. “What is happening here is illegal. The authorities must conduct a re-survey and hold those responsible to account,” said Orville Rodrigues.
Affected residents of Mollo have been summoned for a meeting with the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records in early January to raise these grievances.
The incident has cast a shadow over Christmas celebrations in Mollo, with villagers lamenting the loss of their heritage, traditions, and land in the face of relentless development. For many, the felling of the mango tree stands as a painful symbol of their struggle against what they call encroachments on their rights and livelihoods.
