Goemkarponn desk
VELSAO: For the last fortnight, Velsão residents have been keeping vigil by guarding their lands against the RVNL authorities. The unauthorised survey visits came as yet another twist despite the CEC recommendation to the Supreme Court early this year stating, “The doubling project will only be marginally enhancing the capacity of the most inefficient section of the Railway Network passing through ecologically sensitive areas.”
Locals warned officials to turn back as they could not produce any warranted documents as to why they were inspecting the premises. “It appears that they believe they are above the law of the land and are attempting to trespass into private property, cut hills, undertake landfilling of low lying areas without obtaining clearances from necessary authorities. They even feign ignorance to the land acquisition process under the Railway Act,” said Max De Souza, a resident of Velsão. He added that residents were disturbed by the impunity with which the robust Code for the Engineering Department issued by the Railway Board is being flouted at every stage by RVNL.
With the Government staying silent and feigning ignorance, there is a steady rising decibel of people’s voices, including the maha-morcha at Old Goa (21 Nov 2021) that demanded the safeguarding of the natural and cultural heritage of Goa.
“The village of Velsão has a dense cluster of heritage homes, many of which are near the proposed track extension. Most of these homes are made up of a combination of stone and mud, which puts them at a greater risk. One of the major problems faced by several people are the cracks that emerge all across the walls of these homes on account of the constant vibrations from passing trains. The entire structure vibrates, roof tiles shake, metal sheets vibrates…”, says architect Lester Silveira who curated the heritage at risk series.
Silveira also highlighted that many of these homes will become landlocked and that local will be forced to use the tracks to commute, something that they fear will lead to unwarranted accidents.
In recent years, the exponential increase in coal transportation along these tracks and the proposed expansion is contrary to the country’s official policy to phase coal out in the recent COP 26 alongside countries like Indonesia and the Philippines.
Orville Dourado Rodrigues, Founder Member of Goencho Ekvott and Chairman of VACAD said, that despite staunch opposition to the three linear projects that would irreversibly destroy the environment, our lives & livelihood, the Government, in connivance with agents in the Goa administration continues to hang the Damocles Sword over Goa to make way for the double-tracking.
He added that the recommendation by the Supreme Court-appointed CEC against the 3 linear projects “gives us a ray of hope.” De Souza adds that “the heartening part is the role played by vigilant villagers who are undeterred” despite the heavy police force RVNL descends with.
While the report’s verdict comes as a relief, residents remain committed to safeguarding their land.
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