In a significant development, the district administration has issued notices to the landowners directly affected by survey # 18/1 in Mollo, Pale village. Following a notification published in a local daily on December 14, 2024, the Department of Survey & Land Records (DSLR) commenced the long-awaited land demarcation process at 10:30 AM, attended by local villagers, railway officials, representatives from the NGO Goencho Ekvott, the Talathi, and a strong police presence.
It is important to note that the Government of Goa had previously issued a certificate of possession to South Western Railways (SWR) on October 31, 2023, without adhering to the proper land acquisition procedures, including surveying and demarcating the affected land. Additionally, SWR applied for a mutation on November 21, 2024, and received the mutation certificate on the same day. This process involved not only Mormugao but also Salcete, Quepem, and Sanguem Talukas, raising concerns about the misuse of official machinery in Goa.
By 1:00 PM, the DSLR had plotted the coordinates of the land and plans to resume the demarcation process tomorrow at 10:30 AM.
Orville Dourado Rodrigues, a founder member of Goencho Ekvott, confronted senior officials from Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) regarding their subcontractors’ construction activities beyond 6:00 PM in densely populated areas. He expressed concerns about disturbances caused by heavy machinery and piling works continuing late into the night. RVNL officials agreed to ensure that all construction activities cease at dusk from today; otherwise, villagers may feel compelled to take matters into their own hands. The villagers, along with Goencho Ekvott, have previously lodged complaints with various authorities regarding these issues.
