VASCO
Velsao village witnessed tense moments yet again when villagers on Friday sparred with Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) officials, who began works along the railway tracks.
According to information, villagers were furious after RVNL officials were seen moving around in private properties along the tracks with heavy machinery like JCB.
Sources said a police force was called to the area to prevent any untoward situation while locals began demanding that the RVNL clear dumped materials and other machinery which blocked their traditional access.
Goencho Ekvott founder member Orville Dourado rushed to the site and tried to defuse the escalating tensions between villagers and RVNL officials.
Speaking to reporters, Dourado accused RVNL of invading private properties along the tracks.
"RVNL officials are encroaching on private properties and are dumping construction materials and machinery. Why should we bow down to RVNL pressure as civilians and why are we subject to such treatment? The landlords are agitating and no land acquisition has been done here," said Dourado.
"The RVNL is recklessly cutting age-old trees using heavy machinery and are in gross violation of every law in the land, including land acquisition which has not been initiated or the encroachment of private lands.
“These trees were planted by villagers along the tracks to reduce the noise of the trains and act as coal pollution barriers from trains moving day in and day out along these tracks," said Dourado.
