Tension ran high at the Tuesday midnight ‘operationdouble-tracking’ at Nessai even as it exposed the real face of theadministration and the intent of the government on the issue. The swiftnesswith which government machinery acted in providing a secure channel for therailways to undertake work only amplifies two things: One, that theadministration is not going to sympathize with the people of Goa on this issue,and second, the railways are in extreme hurry to do trial runs of double-tracksin Goa five months from now.
An air of uneasiness, anger and frustration prevailed atnight as protesters against double-tracking led a candlelit march to the Nessairailway crossing in Sao Jose de Areal village after the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltdstarted work on the project at the railway crossing. The swiftness and thesecrecy with which the administration and police went about the job not onlycaught the people off guard but also sent out a grim reminder that thegovernment has turned its back on people.
The midnight operations which were undertaken with heavydeployment of police and machinery saw some heated exchanges between theprotesters and officials, and questions were raised over NOCs, jurisdiction andproprietary of local bodies. When activists confronted railway officialsseeking a no-objection certificate from the local panchayat, they were informedthat the railways are exempted from such permissions because the work is beingundertaken within the railway property.
Beyond the questions that surfaced, the inordinate hurryin completion of the double-tracking work and the government’s tacit support tothe project lay exposed. The barely 24-hour notice of closure from theCollector’s office, and timing the works at odd hours goes to show the entiregovernment machinery is working in tandem towards double-tracking. ChiefMinister Pramod Sawant is quoted as saying that he is yet to go through thefine print of the Collector’s order, this despite the fact the order was inpublic domain for nearly a day. This leads us to ask, why is the governmentgiving false hope to agitating citizens? Why is the government not speakingabout the political compulsions it is facing? By now if the CM has acquaintedhimself of the Tuesday night developments, will he intervene and keep inabeyance similar works slated for November 2 at Chandor and November 9 atDavorlim?
By giving vague assurances and showing ignorance overcritical orders, the government is only trying to buy time and take people andprotesters for a ride. Against the backdrop of protests against double-trackingpicking up steam across Goa, the government has only tried to circumventprotesters through deceitful ways. Goa may witness a major law and ordersituation during the next two scheduled days next month because time is runningout. It’s time the CM intervenes and speaks his mind on the issue instead ofplaying it safe.
