Team Herald
VASCO: Goencho Ekvott delegation on Thursday submitted a memorandum demanding to scrap other land acquisition and withdraw notice of office of land acquisition officer and the Mormugao Deputy Collector for the purpose of Kalem to Vasco town special project namely Hospet-Hubli-Tinaighat-Vasco-da-Gama railway double tracking.
In a press release, Convenor Creson Antao slammed the Revenue Minister Jennifer Monserrate for not discharging her duties as she had to direct Mormugao Deputy Collector Sachin Desai, who is the land acquisition officer to stop this illegal intention or proceedings to acquire land for doubling of track.
Further, Joint Secretary Olencio Simoes stated that Goa is a State and not Union Territory and therefore has its own process to acquire land for State or Central government projects. The Ministry of Railways (South Western Railway Construction Organisation), Government of India, vide its notification SO 4699 (E) dated December 17, 2020 issued under Sub-Section (I) of Section 20A of Chapter IV A of Railway Act, 1989 (24 of 1989) is totally illegal and arbitrary in nature.
Further, Simoes stated that SWR are continuously violating all laws and have made mockery of the present government and people of Goa, as the special project namely Hospet-Hubli-Tinaighat-Vasco-da-Gama railway double tracking in the State of Goa should have been under the Goa Compensation to the Project and Vesting of Land in the Government Bill, 2017.
