MARGAO: Displaying a show of strength at Wednesday’s meeting held in the panchayat hall, Velsao villagers termed the assurances by the Cortalim MLA Antonio Vas and Railways as “false and misleading” and feared that the shifting of the tracks from the western side to the eastern side would “disturb” the houses and a hospital nearby.
In an hour-long presentation by around 100 villagers of Velsao, the visibly emotional locals categorically stated that the so-called solutions offered by the MLA and Railway authorities to their woes are not the answers.
Furthermore, they pointed out that shifting the tracks from the western side to the eastern side would only cause more problems as it would mean laying tracks on the roads at a time when locals already face traffic congestion due to the multiple railway tracks.
They also pointed out that barring two or three villagers, no one else from Velsao had been called for the MLA’s meet with the Railway authorities.
The locals emphasised that they are still facing hardships and thus the question of ‘winning the battle’ doesn’t arise in view of their daily struggles with existing tracks.
Sucorina Rebello from Velsao, who lives in one of the affected houses, was present when the MLA had carried out the inspection and expressed great dismay with how the assurances were given.
“I was really hurt when he made that statement about how six houses will be saved. Till today, we are fighting for the village and so he has to stop saying ‘six houses’ and consider the whole village and the entire constituency,” said Rebello.
“Also, he did not give us anything in writing. He just told us verbally. We don’t believe this (assurances),” Rebello said.
“He had to come today on the ground here in front of us and he should have told us what he is trying to do for the village. He should be asked about the pollution, the cracks on the walls of our houses,” Rebello said.
The locals criticised the MLA for stating that the issue of coal is not his concern as the coal hub is in Mormugao and that the villagers have the full right to go and with the Mormugao taluka MLAs.
Anti-coal activist from Mormugao, Xencor Polgi stressed that the this issue affects entire Goa and that the Mormugao coastal belt including villages like Velsao and Cansaulim, which were symbols of ‘Green Goa’ will soon be turned into ‘Black Goa’ due to the coal dust and the rise in coal pollution once double tracking is approved.
Polgi demanded the intervention of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and slammed the State government for its step-motherly treatment to the village.
Touching upon the coal pollution issue affecting Velsao and surrounding villages, Agnelo Rodrigues, a local fishing union leader gave the example of how pregnant women from the villages are worried as to what will happen to their children
Taking a jibe at the MLA, Rodrigues said soon the business of ambulances, hearse vans and morgues will be in demand in the village as its people will start dying in large numbers.
Another fisherman Camilo Souza referred to analysis by medical practitioners about the presence of arsenic and other harmful substances in the coal dust percolating in the air and water bodies. Souza also gave examples of how other State governments have blocked Central projects in the interest of the local population.
The locals reiterated that they want the double tracking project to stop in totality and are considering approaching the judiciary.
They explained why assurances of the Railways are not accepted by them due to the prevailing ‘deficit of trust’.
Max De Souza, local resident said that the statement given by the Railways that they are considering shifting of the tracks is nothing new as the officials had made the same statement two years ago and nothing has happened.
The Railways have given false assurances in the past too, De Souza alleged.
De Souza also gave a chronology of the entire saga with double tracking in Velsao and how its real purpose is for coal transportation.
Former MLA Alina Saldanha questioned why a tiny State is being made into a corridor for coal transport from Australia to Karnataka and why can’t the coal go directly to one of the 12 minor ports in Karnataka as opposed to the single port in Goa.
She criticised the authorities for ignoring the Supreme Court’s recommendation on double tracking, which will cause massive destruction to the village and Goa.
Saldanha recalled how former Chief Ministers, the present Chief Minister and the present environment minister visited the tracks and have seen the problems themselves, but are offering no respite to the locals despite being part of a government that has been elected by the people.
Cortalim MLA Antonio Vas along with some villagers met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday evening. At this meeting, the MLA apprised the CM of the issues pertaining to double tracking and coal pollution. According to sources, the CM praised Vas for the steps the MLA had taken during the meeting with the railway authorities where Vas tried to solve the issues faced by the villagers.
Sources said that the CM is likely to inspect railway double tracking sites of Cansaulim-Velsao stretch on Thursday during his scheduled visit to Sancoale.
