MARGAO
Officials of various government agencies on Tuesday conducted an inspection of the track doubling work after villagers of Guirdolim, Chandor, besides activists, complained of CRZ violations by the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd.
The residents further maintained that though the Water Resources Department had pointed out large scale irregularities in the track doubling work, no restoration work has been undertaken by the RVNL to date.
Officials of Salcete Mamlatdar, Panchayats, Survey Department inspected the area along with the track doubling work in the presence of the residents and activists. The locals have complained that the railways have carried out the work by violating the CRZ norms by destroying sluice gates and salt marshy land in the area.
Social activist Abhijit Prabhudesai lamented over the absence of Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) officials for the inspection since the area pertains to the CRZ. He, however, hoped that the other government agencies, which participated in the inspection would forward a copy of the inspection report to the GCZMA for action. He also lamented that no railway officials were present for the inspection.
“The residents had complained that the railways had complained violation of CRZM norms, including the destruction of sluice gates and marshy land. We have shown officials of the agencies how the construction has been carried out in the CRZ area. The officials have taken the measurement of the property. We hope all the violations will reflect in the inspection report,” he said, questioning the execution of the work in CRZ areas sans GCZMA clearance.
Abhijit further questioned the use of industrial slag for land-filling, saying the waste may contain hazardous chemicals, which may, in turn, pollute the adjoining river and water bodies and affect the people.
“Private lands have been encroached upon without acquisition and permission from the owners. Is this not trespass?” he demanded to know, saying such arrogance will not be tolerated by the villagers.
A resident of Chandor, Felix Furtado lamented that while the Water Resources Department had issued a host of directions to the railways to execute certain works near the track doubling area, the ground reality has not changed for the better.
“The WRD had submitted its report in February how the railway work had destroyed a sluice gate and water body. We do not know whether the latest inspection will help since the WRD report is not implemented by the railways to date,” Furtado said.
