MARGAO
When the special gram sabha of Sao Jose de Areal village was discussing the issue of government plan to set up a railway station in the village, a gram sabha member Peter Viegas posed a host of questions to the village Sarpanch Carmeena Fernandes.
Viegas sought to know from the chair whether Areal has a police station, a fire station as the village is playing host to 600 industrial units and scrap yards; a health centre to cater to the health needs of the villagers, affected by both air and water pollution et al.
When the Sarpanch replied in the negative, Viegas wondered for whom is the proposed railway station at Areal when the government has no plan to provide these basic necessities and amenities for the villagers.
Indeed, hit by the menace of scrap yards, carbon pollution, untreated effluents discharged in the water bodies, its verdant hills devastated by unregulated metal quarrying and stone crushing activity, besides repeated attempts to set up mega housing projects, Sao Jose de Areal villagers have red flagged the proposed railway station in the village.
“What is the need for another railway station at Areal when the Konkan railway has a major railway terminus at Margao, hardly two to 2.5 kms from the village”, questioned gram sabha member and activist Freddy Travasso.
He added: “There cannot be any reason for building a new railway station at Areal other than for the transportation of coal and goods. Let the government tell us one reason why the KR need another station just two kilometres away from Margao at Areal. We are convinced that the proposed railway station at Areal is meant for coal and goods transportation. We will never allow the station to handle coal in our backyard”.
