Rail officials claim Velsao land as govt’s, locals irate

Vasco: Tensions rose at the double-tracking site at Velsao on Tuesday when officials of the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) claimed that the land earmarked for the project belongs to govt.

South Goa MP Capt Viriato Fernandes, former environment minister Alina Saldanha, Goencho Ekvott founder member Orville Rodrigues, social activist Olencio Simoes, and others confronted the RVNL officials and the contractor for making allegedly unreliable statements over the land.

Earlier, agitated villagers protested as the access to their heritage homes was blocked by RVNL. They demanded immediate restoration of the access road.

“The property belongs to the villagers. The matter is in the court and sub-judice it is a contempt by RVNL and railway authorities,” said Fernandes.