MARGAO
All eyes are on the Land Survey Office in Margao ahead of a crucial hearing scheduled for Thursday, as residents of Velsao continue their prolonged battle against the controversial railway double-tracking project.
The residents, who have been protesting the project, allege that the Railways proceeded with laying the second track without possessing valid land ownership documents. They are now looking to the authorities for justice in what has become a protracted legal and administrative struggle.
Significantly, Thursday’s hearing will mark the 16th session in the case, which has been ongoing at the Land Survey Office since January last year without reaching any conclusion. The repeated adjournments have added to the frustration of the affected residents.
The hearing assumes added importance in light of a call by anti-double-tracking activists urging supporters to gather in large numbers at the Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex in Margao to express solidarity with the residents of Velsao.
Speaking to the media, activist Orville Dourado pointed out that despite multiple hearings, the Railways have yet to submit any documentary evidence to substantiate their claim over the land where the second track has been laid. “The landowners, on the other hand, have furnished all relevant documents before the Land Survey Office. However, the hearings continue to be adjourned for reasons best known to the officials,” he said.
Dourado further alleged that the construction of the second track has severely impacted local residents, with several homes reportedly being blocked due to the project. He demanded justice for the affected families, accusing the Railways of high-handedness in executing the work.
