MARGAO
Asserting that the Railways has not violated any provision of the rules in force while executing track doubling works at Guirdolim-Chandor, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd has told Water Resources Department that the Railways is not required to give the mandatory notices to execute the ongoing works.
Replying to the stop work notice issued by WRD, Executive Engineer Ankush Gaonkar, RVNL said the Railway administration in order to facilitate the movements of men, materials and machineries for construction of the station building/ platform/ retaining wall at Guirdolim-Chandor has filled up a portion of a lake/ drain existing in the lands vested in the Railways under Section 20E r/w Section 20J of Railway Act to make a way or road to the construction site.
In his reply, RVNL General Manager (Projects), Sashibhusan Sahoo said the Railways Administration has neither violated the provisions of Section 11 nor of Section 12(1) of the Railways Act, 1989.
Sahoo reiterated that RVNL has already approved the estimate submitted by the DM/WRD/South Goa team for the restoration work of sluice gate/ nala in the land adjoining the Railway boundaries and fund has already been allocated and kept under reserve for disbursement on demand from the State government.
He added: “It is worthy to note that neither any paddy fields are buried with soil nor any water flow is being obstructed. On the other hand, the newly constructed retaining wall will protect the lake/ drain from any silting of mud from the Railway bank. The work is targeted to be completed by the end of Feb 2022 and the Railways is taking all measures to protect the lake/ drain from silting as well as to maintain free flow of water in the rivulet.”
