Residents of Velsao, backed by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, Con gress leader Amit Patkar and Goencho Ekvott, have warned that they will re move materials allegedly dumped by railway author ities if traditional access roads are not cleared by August 15. A joint delegation of Go encho Ekvott and Velsao villagers, including senior citizens, submitted a mem orandum to South Goa Collector Egna Cleetus on Thursday, demanding an end to what they termed the “atrocious attitude” of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and its agents to wards villagers whose cen turies-old heritage homes lie along the railway tracks.
The villagers alleged that roads used for generations had been blocked after con struction material, includ ing stone aggregate, was dumped along them. They also claimed that railway authorities had no valid ownership documents or ti tle to the disputed land and warned that laying of the second track could leave residents landlocked on their private property. According to Goencho Ekvott member Orville Dourado Rodrigues, the Collector instructed RVNL representative Sahoo Ban nerje to restore it to its orig inal condition by August 15 and submit a compliance report. Bannerje accepted the direction, Rodrigues said. Sardesai said the delega tion had placed the facts be fore the Collector and urged immediate intervention to restore access. “We have made it clear to the Collector that the railway authorities have blocked the access of local residents in a high-handed manner. They do not pos sess ownership documents and, therefore, the Collec torate has issued directions to clear the material by Au gust 15,” he said. Sardesai warned that villagers would clear the material themselves if the authorities failed to comply. “If the railway authorities fail to clear the area, the people will clear it them selves as they have a right to access the road. We want to free Velsao from the rail way authorities’ high-hand edness on August 15,” he said. Patkar also backed the villagers’ demand and said the administration had giv en the railway authorities a deadline to remove the material. Rodrigues described the Collector’s direction as a positive beginning but urged villagers to remain vigilant and united.
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He al leged that the railway works were linked to the trans portation of hazardous coal to northern Karnataka and southern Maharashtra steel plants through the densely populated settlement area, and said efforts must con tinue to restore the quality of life enjoyed by residents on their inherited land. The villagers have urged the administration to pro tect their traditional access and ensure that railway works are carried out law fully after resolving the con cerns of affected residents.
