MARGAO: Leader of the anti-coal agitation Olencio Simoes has slammed the statements on the railway issue that were made by Cortalim Independent MLA Anton Vas.
“The statement that was given by the Cortalim MLA is totally false. Just how he fooled the people before the elections and then joined BJP, he thinks the people of Velsao and Cansaulim are naive but they are not fools to listen to these false assurances,” said Simoes
“Now the MLA went to Cansaulim to get a pedestrian underpass built, which the Railways will consider,” he added.
However, why is he only talking about a pedestrian underpass? Why can’t vehicles move there too? When the local villagers had demanded that a road underpass be constructed near the government primary school, the Railways started saying it is not possible to build an underpass there as the water table is high and that they are only looking at building an overbridge at the Railway gate,” he explained.
“So now suddenly the water table is no longer high at the spot for the pedestrian underpass. So, who is he trying to fool? His thinking that he can pacify the locals and make them happy with false assurances is wrong. He has made these statements because of the G20 summit in April to divert the issues,” said Simoes
“His statements of using MLA and ZP funds are also false as this matter of shifting the railway tracks is not a small task. First of all, Railways has to give this shifting assurance in writing. Secondly, our objection against double tracking is that this project is only for transportation of the coal” said Simoes.
“Then the MLA says he is doing work for the farmers but doesn’t he know that the coal dust will bring down the yield of the fields. Doesn’t he know that the fields will get flooded when railways block the water bodies? Due to the Verna station, the farmers there are always facing losses due to flooding,” Simoes added.
“He should behave like the MLA of Cortalim. There are so many issues here. Look at how the Railways has encroached upon privately-owned lands that were never acquired by the Railways in the first place. This encroachment issue is a separate issue by itself and double tracking, which the villagers are opposing tooth and nail, is a separate issue. So please don’t confuse the locals,” Simoes added.
“Please go home and learn before speaking. If you (MLA) don’t know, come to my house, I will tell you how the Railways is coming, how people of Cansaulim, Velsao, Arrosim, Issorcim, Cortalim and Sancoale will be destroyed because of this railway and coal handling,” said Simoes
“I once again appeal to the government and the new District Collector to urgently look into the illegalities committed by the Railways. The MLA has been sent many representations on this. The MLA said he will hold a public hearing and solve the issues but where has he solved the issues? He should not talk in the air. Nonetheless our movement will continue and won’t stop,” Simoes vowed.
