Win for rail double-tracking protesters as land acquisition cases against several villagers dropped

Offering a ‘ray of hope’ to those who have been fighting against the railway double tracking project, a section of the locals who had objected to the land acquisition proceedings were relieved to hear that the land acquisition proceedings against their land has now been withdrawn.

This was announced by the Competent Authority – the Mormugao Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), who is the land acquisition officer.

While it’s clear on what grounds the cases against a sizable number of residents have been withdrawn, this decision has been given encouragement to others who are still trying to stop the land acquisition proceedings from taking place.

It is to be noted that there is a larger number of cases wherein the South Western Railway (SWR) is going ahead with acquiring the land as per the land acquisition award that had been issued recently.

In a public notice, the Competent Authority has asked all persons interested or entitled in respect of Survey numbers published, to state the nature of their respective interest and claim in the land, between May 2 and May 10 in its office.

Goencho Ekvott (GE) has claimed that the withdrawal of the land acquisition proceedings for the double tracking in Velsao, Cansaulim and Arossim as a victory of the landowners who had filed objections to the office of the competent authority and despite a raging pandemic had stood up for their demand that double tracking should not be allowed through Goa as it is meant to primarily use the State as a coal corridor.

“Goencho Ekvott and supporting organisations/individuals have ensured that the constitutional rights to dwell on one’s ancestral land has been respected and land acquisition proceedings for the undesired double tracking has been withdrawn in some cases, residences and a convent cum primary school has been saved. Our strength is the unity of our people,” said GE Founder Orville Dourado Rodrigues.