VASCO
Locals of Arossim and members of Goencho Ekvott (GE) on Thursday confronted Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) authorities over alleged double tracking works in the village.
In a press note, the GE claimed that RVNL along with a force drawn from the Railway Protection Force had gone to Arossim.
The GE said locals were upset by the manner in which the Railway contractor had been executing underground cabling works through private, Comunidade and Fabrica properties. They claimed that centuries-old storm water drains which flow towards water bodies on either side of the existing single railway track have been destroyed and, in its place, concrete troughs had been laid to lay armoured cables.
Goencho Ekvott members along seven panchayat members, Sarpanch Xavier Savio Pereira, Deputy Sarpanch Arlinda Almeida, Panchas Mervilla da Costa, Mackina Rodrigues, Jessica D’Silva were present, while Panchas Larson Saldanha and Deva Naik also expressed their support to the villagers
Goencho Ekvott founder member Orville Dourado Rodrigues questioned the manner in which RVNL has executed the underground works despite the fact that the contractor had no clear title to the land, and had not taken consent of the local panchayat body.
Congress leader Olencio Simoes said the villagers would not allow their land resources to be used by the railways to destroy the very existence of the inhabitants.
Goencho Ekvott Secretary Ella Mascarenhas pointed out to those assembled that the villagers were unitedly opposing the destruction of the storm water drains since May 2022. Some villagers had for the very first time experienced flood waters enter their homes during the monsoon this year.
Attorney of the Fabrica Celiano Antao admitted that the committee was preparing for a long legal battle to assert its right over the land which houses the heritage structure of St Lawrence Chapel and that the Fabrica had forwarded its objections to the local panchayat.
Later, the police force drawn from Verna police station, RVNL, local panchayat members, Goencho Ekvott and other villagers inspected the entire excavated route within Arossim village, the GE press note added.
