MARGAO
Agitated villagers of Sao Jose de Areal on Thursday told railway officials not to take up any work on the double tracking till such time the officials produce the land acquisition plan of the existing track passing through the village.
The villagers also demanded that they are not in favour of a railway station in the village, pointing out that no railway station has been marked on the draft Regional Plan prepared by the Goa government.
This was conveyed by additional general manager, Rail Vi
kas Nigam Ltd Shashi Bushan Sahoo when a delegation of the railways visited the Sao Jose de Areal village panchayat for an interaction with the villagers to hear their grievances.
Sahoo and his team explained to the villagers that the railways have received NOCs from most of the land owners, adding that the land owners will receive good compensation in lieu of the land without any hassles. "We explained to the villagers that most of the land owners have given their NOCs for the procurement of the land for the double tracking project. The land owners can negotiate for a better rate and we told them that they can receive the compensation minus the lengthy process," Sahoo said.
He said the railways is in possession of the land acquisition plan pertaining to the existing track, adding that the same will be submitted to the Sao Jose de Areal panchayat at the earliest.
Reacting to the villagers demand opposing a railway station at Areal, Sahoo said, "Areal will only have a passenger shed, wherein passengers can board the train and alight. If the villagers are opposed to the station, what can we do. In other places, people are demanding a station in their respective area."
Areal villager and social activist Freddy Travasso told The Goan that the railways have been told by the villagers not to carry out any work till all issues are resolved. "Today's interaction was held after a group of railway workers were spotted working along the tracks. We have asked them to submit the land acquisition plan of the existing line from Davorlim to Chandor, before taking up any work," he said.
He pooh-poohed the claim made by the railways that most of the land owners have issued the NOCs, saying that the ground reality is different. "The RP 2021 does not make any mention of railway station at Areal. Hence, we have told the railway officials to drop the railway station in the village."
Sahoo and his team explained to the villagers that the railways have received NOCs from most of the land owners, adding that the land owners will receive good compensation in lieu of the land without any hassles. "We explained to the villagers that most of the land owners have given their NOCs for the procurement of the land for the double tracking project. The land owners can negotiate for a better rate and we told them that they can receive the compensation minus the lengthy process," Sahoo said.
He said the railways is in possession of the land acquisition plan pertaining to the existing track, adding that the same will be submitted to the Sao Jose de Areal panchayat at the earliest.
Reacting to the villagers demand opposing a railway station at Areal, Sahoo said, "Areal will only have a passenger shed, wherein passengers can board the train and alight. If the villagers are opposed to the station, what can we do. In other places, people are demanding a station in their respective area."
Areal villager and social activist Freddy Travasso told The Goan that the railways have been told by the villagers not to carry out any work till all issues are resolved. "Today's interaction was held after a group of railway workers were spotted working along the tracks. We have asked them to submit the land acquisition plan of the existing line from Davorlim to Chandor, before taking up any work," he said.
He pooh-poohed the claim made by the railways that most of the land owners have issued the NOCs, saying that the ground reality is different. "The RP 2021 does not make any mention of railway station at Areal. Hence, we have told the railway officials to drop the railway station in the village."
