MONDAY, JULY 08, 2024
KARSTEN MIRANDA
VELSAO: Villagers from Mollo, a fishing hamlet in the village of Pale, Velsao, received a shock when they received a notice from the government that they had to hand over possession of their lands to the Railways for the double-tracking project.
“This is a bombshell! It looks like the government does not care about our plight but is only intent on driving us out from this area which we have called home for generations. Our ancestors lived here. Where will we go? How will we survive? We aren’t only losing our houses and our land but also our way of life and our livelihoods,” said one of the villagers, who felt betrayed by the authorities.
The villagers, coming from humble backgrounds, have vowed not to give up their land rights come what may as there is no price for their irreplaceable slice of life. At a meeting held on Thursday, they decided to attend the meeting on Friday that they were called for but they won’t surrender their land but instead file fresh objections.
The issue arose when a large number of villagers, some of them who stay in hutments, were informed by the Mormugao Deputy Collector, Bhagwant Karmali, who is also the Competent Authority (CA), i.e. the Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) for the Hospet-Hubbali-Tinaighat-Vasco-da-Gama doubling in Goa received a notice.
While the date of this notice was August 1, many villages got their “future surrender warrants” barely three days before the deadline. In the Notice, the Deputy Collector informed the affected villagers that their office had passed an award dated November 29/11/2022 under Section 20 F of the Railways Act 1989 for the Special Railway project.
The CA further added that Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) that the total compensation amount (Rs 5,08,65,181) in respect of that award has been deposited by South Western Railway (SWR) with the EDC Ltd, Panjim; and that the interested parties or their legal heirs can thereby claim the compensation amount in respect of the survey numbers notified and acquired upon production of the required documents.
The Deputy Collector (Competent Authority) directed those in possession of such land to surrender or deliver possession within sixty days.
The CA then directed all the persons interested or entitled in connection with the survey numbers to remain present in person or by their duly-appointed agent or legal practitioner on Friday, August 25 at 10 am in the office of the Mamlatdar of Mormugao to hand over the possession of the land.
RVNL General Manager has also been asked to remain present along with the required documents/plans.
The villagers informed that they received messages that this meeting may take place at the Ravindra Bhavan office in Baina.
In order to chalk out their strategy and also to show solidarity with the villagers, a meeting was convened on Thursday evening by Goencho Ekvott (GE), Goenche Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) and other allied organisations. GRE General Secretary Olencio Simoes and Panch Francisco were also present.
How their past and their future are being taken away
Large numbers of villagers were informed by the Mormugao Deputy Collector, Bhagwant Karmali, of the government’s move to take over their land. Though the notices were dated August 1, many villagers got their “future surrender warrants” barely three days before the deadline
They were informed total compensation amount (Rs 5,08,65,181) for their land has been deposited by South Western Railway (SWR)
The Deputy Collector (Competent Authority) directed those in possession of such land to surrender or deliver possession within 60 days
Notice directed those entitled in connection with the survey numbers to remain present in person or by their duly-appointed agent or legal practitioner on Friday, August 25 at 10 am in the office of the Mamlatdar of Mormugao to hand over the possession of the land
Traditional communities refuse to be allured by money, will not surrender even an inch of land
VELSAO: The assembled villagers conveyed their resentments against the Government of Goa and criticised the authorities for not even intervening to protect the interest of the local inhabitants against the consistent threats from RVNL to deny them the right to reside in their homeland.
Being mostly from the traditional communities that are largely dependent on the resources from the Arabian Sea, they felt that their consistent appeals to the authorities have fallen on deaf ears despite the favourable verdict of the Supreme Court of India which has deemed the double tracking not viable and has instead recommended the Krishnapatnam port on the East coast of India for coal transportation to Karnataka.
During the meeting, the villagers themselves pledged not to fall prey to the financial allurements and instead fight through legal means the unjust and ill-conceived land acquisition process through the office of Deputy Collector Mormugao. They appealed to the local residents to support them in their just cause.
“What has troubled the villagers more is that no physical demarcation was done. All that the Competent Authority is saying with regard to the land acquisition is only on paper. The villagers have all their documents with them to show which is their land,” said Orville Dourado Rodrigues, GE founder.
On that point, locals added that there has been no study done either on how the villagers will get affected, be it the traditional small houses or the numerous coconut trees, the tributary of River Sal or a spring on the hills. Places, where they store and mend their nets and boats, will also be crushed along with the locality.
“The Railways wants to acquire the land here but this area falls under CRZ and there are permissions needed to carry out work here. We have asked the authorities to show these documents but they have been silent,” Rodrigues added.
