VASCO
Goencho Avaaz has demanded that the Collector immediately stop the illegal process for land acquisition for the Hospet-Hubli-Londa-Vasco double-tracking project.
Speaking to media persons, convenor of Goencho Avaaz Captain Viriato said that as per the letter obtained through RTI, Government of India/Ministry of Railways letter dated 16th February 2018 regarding land acquisition for the Hospet-Hubli-Londa-Vasco-da-Gama railway project, the land acquisition process being undertaken by the Collector’s office for the Hospet-Hubli-Londa-Vasco da Gama Railway doubling project is illegal and improper.
"The land acquisition process to be undertaken under the Railways Act warrants that the entire project has to be declared as Special Railway Project and not a small section covering few patches of land,” Captain Viriato said.
Acquisition of land under the Railways Act will require Joint measurements to be conducted involving Railway representative, state revenue authorities as well as the land owners. Since any of these land owners are not readily traceable, such JMC cannot be conducted. Acquiring different stretches of land in the same project by two separate organizations under different Acts would lead to discrepancies in assessment of land compensation which will give rise to disputes, said Captain Viriato.
The letter also clearly states that if the acquisition is not possible due to objections/other reasons, the same may be undertaken under “The Goa compensation to the project and vesting of land in the Government Bill, 2017". Hence it is abundantly clear that the land acquisition proceeding being undertaken under the Railways Act, 1989 is clearly illegal, unsustainable and liable to be challenged if the Land Acquisition Officer persists in proceeding with the hearings for this illegality, said Captain Viriato.
"Now that the Collector has been made aware of the illegalities under which his office is operating in this matter, Goencho Avaaz earnestly appeals to him not to be an accessory in contravening the processes, and to kindly cancel the acquisition process underway for the above project, he said.
