MARGAO
The villagers scuttled the demarcation when railway officials descended near the railway station with measuring tapes, apparently to measure the amount of land that would come under the track doubling project. The villagers contended that when the entire village is against the project, there's no point in carrying out demarcation of the land that is required for the project.
Taking note of the objections raised by the villagers, Deputy General Manager, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd Shashi Bhushan Sahu l
ater told the media that it has been decided to hold a joint meeting of the agitating villagers, local panchayat members, railway officials with the district Collector. Villagers, however, demanded that Sarpanch Peres D'Costa convene a special gram sabha of the panchayat to hear the views of the villagers on the project before participating in any talks with the district Collector.
Agitated locals turned up in strength at the Areal station after railway officials fixed an appointment on Tuesday morning after playing truant last time round. After they spotted railway officials demarcating the additional land that would be required for the track doubling project, the villagers told them to immediately stop the work, saying there's no question of the demarcation when the villagers were opposed to the track doubling project.
Almost the entire panchayat body led by Sarpanch Peres D'Costa was present at the railway station along with Zilla panchayat member Moreno Rebello. They blamed the railway officials for creating confusion by sending notices to even those villagers whose land is not required for acquisition.
Activist Freddy Travasso told the railway officials that the local land owners do not want to part with their land, pointing out that the land required for the project is agricultural in nature.
The railways have planned to acquired land admeasuring 3425 sq mts at Sao Jose de Areal near the existing platform for the track doubling project. "We want land admeasuring 3425 sq mts at a length of 290 metres. Two platforms will come up at the station with a connecting footbridge," the railway consultant said.
Agitated locals turned up in strength at the Areal station after railway officials fixed an appointment on Tuesday morning after playing truant last time round. After they spotted railway officials demarcating the additional land that would be required for the track doubling project, the villagers told them to immediately stop the work, saying there's no question of the demarcation when the villagers were opposed to the track doubling project.
Almost the entire panchayat body led by Sarpanch Peres D'Costa was present at the railway station along with Zilla panchayat member Moreno Rebello. They blamed the railway officials for creating confusion by sending notices to even those villagers whose land is not required for acquisition.
Activist Freddy Travasso told the railway officials that the local land owners do not want to part with their land, pointing out that the land required for the project is agricultural in nature.
The railways have planned to acquired land admeasuring 3425 sq mts at Sao Jose de Areal near the existing platform for the track doubling project. "We want land admeasuring 3425 sq mts at a length of 290 metres. Two platforms will come up at the station with a connecting footbridge," the railway consultant said.
