Team Goemkarponn
QUEPEM: Before moving on with the contentious Indian Railways double-tracking project, the Goa government has been urged by former Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to give local citizens’ opinions first priority. Prabhu stressed the value of public consultation in any development endeavour while attending the Shigmotsav Parade. For every project, a public hearing is required. In 1998, it became required. “Any project can be challenged in court without a public hearing,” Prabhu told the journalists. He emphasised that local communities’ concerns must be taken into account by the Goa government, especially in villages like Velsao and Cansaulim where the project has been met with considerable opposition.
It ought to be the government’s resolute position. In Goa, people make a living via their traditional occupations, which include farming, horticulture, fishing, and tourism. Double-tracking will undoubtedly aid in development, but it shouldn’t occur without the consent of the local population,” he continued. Prabhu advised officials to address the villagers’ complaints and make sure their worries are addressed before proceeding with the project in light of the disturbance in Velsao. The double-tracking project has encountered strong opposition from locals who worry about environmental damage and threats to their livelihoods, despite the fact that it is thought to improve railway connectivity for coal transportation.
