VASCO: The Goencho Ekvott delegation on Friday submitted a memorandum to Deputy Collector of Mormugao Dattaraj K Gauns Dessai demanding to stop new land acquisition for doubling of railway track at Curchorem, Carcora, Davorlim, Arossim, Cansaulim and Velsao for special project –Hospet /Hubli /Tinaighat/Vasco da Gama.
The Forum also accused Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant of failure to protect State’s interest and speeding up with anti-people projects just to please his crony capitalists.
In a press statement, the Goencho Ekvott’s Joint Secretary Olencio Simoes stated that the village panchayat is a Constitutional local government body ushered in by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment and enactment by The Goan Panchayat Raj Act, 1994. Schedule –I, of the Act, bestows on the village panchayat the responsibility for Development, Health, Social Welfare, Lives and Livelihood of villagers in the panchayat area. But even after the VP Velsao-Pale-Issorcim, Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim and other panchayats opposed the land acquisition still the government is forcing this against the wishes of the villagers.
Founder Member Orville Dourado Rodrigues said, “The Application No 1440 in IA 1380 of 2005 is pending before the Supreme Court alleging that the “Hospet-Hubli-Tinaighat-Vasco Railway Track Doubling Project” violates Supreme Court order of 2001. The Supreme Court directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to evaluate the allegations.”
“The CEC in their Report No 6 dated April 23, 2021 submitted to the Supreme Court states that it ‘does not find any justification for undertaking a project of this nature’ and recommended that the Apex Court ‘revoke the permissions granted’. As the execution of this project is sub-judice before the Supreme Court, then why is the government still pressing for this project as the Chief Minister had clearly stated that it will stand by the CEC verdict,” he added.
Stop new land acquisition for double tracking: GE
