SANGUEM
A group of villagers led by former Kalay sarpanch Kishore Rama Gauns Dessai on Friday marched to the Kalay panchayat over the repercussions if there was a permanent stoppage of loading and unloading operations of iron ore at the Kalay Railway Yard.
The agitation followed the status quo order passed by the High Court on January 18 on the petition filed by Goa Foundation through Claude Alvares challenging the legality of the loading and unloading operations at Kalay Railway Yard.
After going through the petition and considering the material on record, the Court passed a status quo order until the passing of the interim relief application on January 23.
Goa Foundation has challenged the legality of the loading and unloading activities at Kalay Railway Yard without prior approval from Chief Wildlife Warden under Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
The agitated villagers accused Kalay Sarpanch Narendra Gaonkar of supporting Claude Alvares in filing the petition. Gaonkar, however, refuted the charges and argued that he never sought for stoppage of transportation activities in the village.
The villagers also pointed out that a permanent stoppage of loading and unloading operations of iron ore at the Kalay Railway Yard would have severe impact on other activities by villagers as most residential and commercial activities in the village fall within the precincts of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wild Life Sanctuary.
Most residents who staged the agitation are directly or indirectly associated with loading and unloading operation of ore at Kalay Railway yard and have threatened to hold the Sarpanch responsible for any loss to their livelihood. A police team was stationed at the panchayat to maintain law and order.
