Team Herald
MARGAO: Velsao gram sabha once again reiterated its opposition to the double tracking and confirmed that no NOC was granted to Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) for the project.
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Tensions flared up at the gram sabha as it was alleged that the panchayat’s Village Development Committee (VDC) had given a NOC to RVNL for double-tracking work.
However, Velsao VDC vice-chairman Max D’Souza laid the facts of the case, rejecting the allegation that it had granted a NOC to the railways for double tracking.
Velsao Sarpanch, Diana Gouveia informed that the panchayat is in no position to give a NOC as it doesn’t have the authority to do so and also doesn’t own lands for which it is needed to provide an NOC.
She referred to the Supreme Court judgment that limited the panchayat powers and instead asked the locals to come out and fight personally. She further explained that the people had raised objections and that the panchayat sought clarifications on the work being carried out by the railways which was causing such sound and noise pollution. She also criticized the manner in which railways have carried out their work, without demarcation.
The Sarpanch also reiterated that the panchayat has always been on the ground opposing double tracking and will continue to do so.
Goencho Ekvott (GE) leader and local resident Orville Dourado Rodrigues added that villagers are concerned with the blocking of right of way and destruction of age-old waterways by the railways.
The VDC and the Panchayat also informed the villagers that they had not attended the meeting that was called last Friday at the South Goa District Collectorate. The meeting was called to resolve the issues with the railways and was chaired by Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira. A date for the demarcation exercise at Mollo was fixed for December 20, at the meeting.
Rodrigues rubbished the allegations that while on one hand, the panchayat was portraying to be with the people in opposing the double tracking, on the other hand, they were engaging with RVNL. He said that they had boycotted the meeting as they had received no formal invitation of the same.
Rodrigues also appealed to all to be united on the issue and be one in opposing double tracking and not fall prey to rumours.
