The villagers of Velsao were visibly annoyed on Monday after learning that the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited started to build a retaining wall on the spot where the water moves in a storm drain during the rainy season.
Villagers alleged that despite the strong opposition from the villagers, the government is forcing this project down their throats.
The railway double tracking project work is going on in full swing in South Goa despite agitations and opposition from the people against this project since its inception.
The Velsao villagers are vehemently against this project. They have time and again come forward and questioned the railway authorities on the double tracking project.
On Monday, some villagers of Velsao were upset seeing that the RVNL labourers were building a retaining wall.
The villagers claimed that the stretch where the retaining wall is coming up is where the stormwater drain is located. Rainwater accumulates in the rainy season, and then it drains out naturally.
Orville Rodrigues, a local from Velsao, said that building a retaining wall will discourage the smooth flow of rainwater, and this will lead to the fields getting flooded.
He further said that the state government should work in favour of the people and protect their interests, but here people are sidelined.
Another villager said that they were asked to produce documents by the government authorities when they objected to the double tracking.
“But what about the railway authorities who are continuing the double tracking work by encroaching, fencing our area's pathways,” he questioned.
Velsao villagers made it clear that they will not allow the doubling of the railway track in their village at any cost.