MARGAO
Sao Jose de Areal villagers on Tuesday strongly opposed plans by the government and the Konkan Railway Corporation to set up a railway station in the village.
In fact, a special gram sabha convened by the Areal panchayat on Tuesday unanimously opposed the plan to set up a railway station in the village, fearing that the railway station is meant for coal handling and to handle cargo.
At the special gram sabha, chaired by Sarpanch Carmena Fernandes, gram sabha members demanded to know the rationale behind proposing a railway station in Areal when the Margao railway station is located barely two kilometres away from the village. “We strongly suspect hanky-panky in the government plan to set up a railway station in Areal. Either it is meant for coal handling or to handle cargo,” thundered social activist Peter Viegas.
Referring to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s recent statement that the government would try to provide drinking water to the people at least for four hours, Peter said the government should focus on the development of the people and not pursue the plans of the corporates.
“Sao Jose de Areal is facing both air and water pollution. And now the government wants to thrust the railway station on the people,” he said.
He demanded to know from the Sarpanch whether Areal village has a health centre, a fire station, given that the Nessai IDC plays host to hundreds of industrial units, a playground for the children, a market, a police station for law and order, etc. “Instead of focusing on this infrastructure in the village, the government is proposing a railway station at Areal,” he lamented.
Gram sabha member Freddy Travasso said the railway station at Areal would divide the village and create problems for both humans and animals. He suggested to the Sarpanch to write a letter to the Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, local Velim MLA Cruz Silva, as well as South Goa MP Capt. Viriato Fernandes and convey the objection of the villagers to the railway station.
Late briefing the media, Sarpanch Carmena Fernandes said the special gram sabha had resolved to oppose the proposed railway station at Sao Jose de Areal. She said neither the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant nor the railways had kept the Areal Panchayat in the loop before making the proposal to set up a railway station in the village. “Villagers fear that the railway station in Areal will be used for handling coal and goods. This would cause pollution and destruction,” she added.
