MARGAO
The fear of the railways laying additional tracks along the Seraulim stretch of the railway line has gripped the villagers of Seraulim.
For, the villagers pointed out that the railways has included its name in Form I & XIV without following the process of taking the owners into confidence.
The issue prominently figured at the gram sabha of the Seraulim village panchayat chaired by deputy Sarpanch Leslie Dourado as the land owners are believed to have received notices from the Konkan railway Corporation for a hearing on January 3.
Agitated gram sabha members wondered whether the railways has included its name on the land records with the purpose of laying additional tracks along the line passing through the village.
The members questioned the chair whether the Panchayat body has spread awareness amongst the villagers over the notices for the January 3 hearing since there’s hardly a fortnight left for the hearing, besides the intervening Christmas festivities.
Saying that the panchayat will take necessary measures to make the members aware of the hearing, the deputy Sarpanch told the members that the Panchayat would seek adjournment of the hearing and seek a fresh date.
Gram sabha member Kevin D’Souza later told the media there’s fear and anxiety in the minds of the people after the railways have erected stones along the tracks passing through the village. He said the people have raised apprehension since the railways have included its name in the land records. ‘People suspect that all this is being done to pave way for the laying of additional tracks in the village. Gram sabha members have asked the Panchayat to bring about awareness among the villagers on the railways plan and the hearing scheduled on January 3”, Kevin stated.
The gram sabha also questioned the chair over the status of the proposal to modernize the sluice gates with the help and assistance of the government.
Kevin told the media that Seraulim plays host to a number of water bodies, whose waters are used for irrigating agricultural fields. “We have to modernise the sluice gates to bring down the cost of operating the gates. This proposal was mooted around four years ago, but the government is yet to give its approval”, he said.
The gram sabha also discussed about the Seraulim underpass, which had come under public scanner due to water logging post monsoons. The Deputy Sarpanch informed that one side of the underpass has been cleaned and the process is presently underway to make the subway motorable.
Gram sabha member Kevin D’Souza, however, told the media that the Seraulim underpass has no drainage facility as a result of which it gets waterlogged and flooded during the monsoon.
