the goan I network
VASCO
The Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) along with a group of villagers from Velsao-Pale and Majorda on Friday morning submitted objections to the Deputy Collector Mahadev Araundekar, in connection with land procurement at Pale and Issorcim village for the Margao-Vasco double tracking project.
According to information, the South Western Railway (SWR) plans to double the tracks in the belt along Majorda, Cansaulim, Zuari, Pale, Issorcim, Dabolim, Chicalim and Vasco.
GRE has insisted the procurement of any land for the doubling project of SWR at Pale and Issorcim should be scrapped in toto, failing which villagers would be forced to protest on the streets.
GRE General Secretary Olencio Simoes said villagers were shocked to receive notices from office of Deputy Collector/Sub-Divisional Officer for procurement of land for expansion of double railway line in the villages of Pale and Issorcim.
“Despite repeated assurance made by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanaha vociferously fighting against the double tracking in Velsao, Pale, Issorsim and Cansaulim villages, the villagers received the notices.”
“This is betrayal by the BJP government and it has cheated villagers, as this proposed doubling project of SWR is to facilitate Sagarmala plans, in which Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) is strategically located to cater to the needs of coal requirements of steel and power plants in Karnataka,” said Simoes.
“The doubling of rail line between Vasco and Hospet is only to transport coal from these berths through our villages, which have a rich history of over 450-year-old heritage houses, churches and natural vegetation,” added Simoes.
Agnelo Fernandes of Velsao said the coal trains which pass close to his house had already damaged old houses in the area due to the vibration.
“The coal spillage from the wagons has caused dust pollution and has affected our health. If the double railway line is constructed, then coal pollution will only increase in our village, aggravating the health hazards.”
“With the increase of trains, villagers will be forced to wait even longer at railway crossing gates in Velsao, Cansaulim and other crossings along the proposed line,” Fernandes added.
