CANSAULIM VILLAGERS STOP RAILWAY DOUBLE TRACKING WORK AT AROSSIM
VASCO: The villagers of Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim today stopped work of railway double tracking at Arrosim even as Cortalim BJP MLA Alina Saldanha declared that she will continue to oppose the project despite being a part of ruling party.
The villagers gathered near St Lwarence Chapel, Arossim after getting information that the South Western Railway had dumped material and commenced the work of laying double track in the village.
Coralim MLA Alina Saldanha, Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim sarpanch Jose Mario Furtado, former sarpanch Martha Saldanha and panchayat members also rushed to the spot.
The villagers strongly objected and stopped the work and demanded resignation of Alina Saldanha and 10 rebel Congress MLAs who had joined BJP last year.
However, Alina declared that she will continue to oppose the project despite being part of the ruling BJP.
Jose Mario Furtado said that the gram sabha had opposed the double tracking from the start. He also demanded Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha not to protest on the tracks while being soft on the government and to come out clear about her stand on the project.
Martha Saldanha said that people had demanded the resignation of Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha and 10 former Congress MLAs who had joined the BJP. Slamming the government for failing to stop the work Martha appealed to the villagers not to take law in their hands.
Later, Alina Saldanha told reporters that she will continue to oppose the double tracking project and demanded that the police should stop intimidating the people instead of protecting them.
Alina questioned how material can be dumped at Arossim when the Union Railways Minister had said that he would visit Goa and hold discussions with the Chief Minister regarding the project.
The NJP legislator said she was tired to see the government determined to take up the project despite opposition from the people.
A huge police force led by Vasco DySP Raju Raut Desai was deployed at the site to prevent any law and order situation.