Alina disapproves of cabinet nod for SWR track doubling

NT NETWORK

Vasco

Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha, on Thursday, came down heavily on the state government for approving the  track doubling project of  South Western Railway (SWR) in the cabinet, without consulting her.

Saldanha was disturbed after some representatives of the state government, SWR and PWD visited the Cansaulim railway station to inspect the site for proposed doubling of the railway tracks.

She rushed to the site and forced the officials to reschedule  the inspection on July 7 at 10 am in the presence of villagers.

“I was put to surprise by the representatives of the state government, SWR and PWD on Thursday after they arrived for site inspection for  doubling of the railway tracks at Cansaulim railway station without informing me about the time schedule. I was kept in dark by the authorities about the timings, but despite of the same I rushed to the site hurriedly from Mapusa so that the people should know the fact,” she said

 “In fact I was very much happy over the stand taken by Chief Minister for conducting resurvey of the proposed alignment after the affected villagers had received notices from the concerned department. Chief Minister had himself asked me to write to the deputy Collector and sub-divisional magistrate, Mormugao taluka, stating that the process of land acquisition should be kept on hold, and the same was done by me,” she informed.

“On one hand, the Chief Minister directs for a resurvey while on the other hand cabinet passes the project. This is contradictory, and it won’t be tolerated and accepted,” she said and added  that it is very easy to sit in a hall and take decision when they are not affected.

Meanwhile, representative of fishermen forums Cansaulim villagers Olencio Simoes raised objection against  the project with the government representatives prior to the arrival of Cortalim MLA at the Cansaulim railway station.

He demanded that the Chief Minister should halt land acquisition process proposed for the doubling of the SWR
railway tracks.