the goan I network
VASCO
A memorandum by the BDO to the panchayat secretaries of four panchayats directing them to physically verify the presence of houses within 15 metres of either side of existing railway tracks for the feasibility of double-tracking between Margao and Vasco was withdrawn on Tuesday, following protests by residents of Velsao on Monday.
According to sources, the memorandum had been issued to the panchayats of Velsao-Pale-Issorcim, Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim, Majorda-Utorda-Calata and Chicalim.
Social activist and former panch Roquezinho D’Souza said news about the withdrawal of the memorandum came to light after a delegation of villagers on Tuesday morning went to the Velsao panchayat office to enquire about the status of the memorandum with Panchayat Secretary Vidur Fadte. “When we contacted the Panchayat Secretary Vidur Fadte and Acting Sarpanch Sylvia D’Souza, we were informed that the memorandum issued was withdrawn by the BDO.”
“When we sought to know on what grounds the memorandum had been withdrawn, the secretary said no particular ground was mentioned on the withdrawal note. This only shows that the BDO had done this intentionally to harass the villagers,” said D’Souza.
“We still have no clarity as to why the memorandum was issued by the BDO in the first place and what was the haste in getting the survey done to facilitate the double-tracking of railway lines,” D’Souza added.
It may be recalled that angry villagers of Velsao-Pale on Monday had threatened to stop the railway survey after several villagers led by D’Souza had met the Velsao-Pale Panchayat and confronted Fadte over the survey.
Fadte said he had received a memorandum from the BDO on Friday afternoon on WhatsApp, directing him to physically verify existing railway tracks for studying the feasibility of double-tracking and that there are no houses or human habitation within 15 metres from either side of existing railway tracks or otherwise.
Fadte said he was also directed that the compliance report should reach the BDO office by 5 pm on the same day.
