Margao: Velsao residents, led by GFP president Vijai Sardesai and former Congress president Amit Patkar, on Thursday met South Goa collector Egna Cleetus, alleging that Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) had trespassed on private properties and blocked traditional access routes to several houses.The delegation told the collector that RVNL had failed to produce ownership documents to justify blocking the paths. Sardesai said the collector, after hearing the grievances, directed the Railways to remove all material dumped on the access routes by Aug 15.Sardesai and Patkar warned that villagers would remove the material if RVNL failed to comply. “This proves RVNL’s work was illegal. Velsao people have suffered enough, and we will not allow them to suffer anymore,” Sardesai said. “If they fail to clear the paths forthwith, we will free Velsao from RVNL’s ‘dadagiri’ on this Independence Day.”The meeting follows protests against the rail double-tracking project, during which Sardesai and Patkar joined villagers in climbing onto an earthmover to remove construction material blocking a road. Villagers had also demanded the resignation of Cortalim MLA Anton Vas, accusing him of remaining silent.Sardesai had accused Centre of acquiring land without due legal process and termed the double-tracking work “illegal”, while Patkar described the Railways’ actions as “trespassing” and alleged that govt was pushing residents to take matters into their own hands.
