Daijiworld Media Network- Panaji
Panaji, Feb 10: The Azossim-Mandur gram sabha has vehemently opposed the Konkan Railway Corporation’s (KRC) plan to set up a railway station at Neura, citing severe environmental and agricultural concerns.
During the meeting, members unanimously passed a resolution demanding the scrapping of the project, as Sarpanch Prashant Naik assured that the panchayat would formally communicate its opposition to the authorities. The twin villages, forming part of Goa’s extensive khazan land, stretch from Agasaim and Neura to Corlim and Carambolim. Residents fear that the project’s proximity to Dongorim at Mandur could significantly impact local livelihoods and the fragile ecosystem.
AAP leader and activist Ramrao Wagh warned that the project threatens farmers' sustenance and the region’s khazan lands, which hold immense ecological and cultural value. He alleged that the railway station plan could be a ploy to establish a coal hub in the area. Panch member Francis Po also urged locals to rally against the proposal.
The meeting also saw heated discussions over the controversial granting of an emergency house number (EHN) to a registered company in Mandur. Wagh pointed out that while EHNs are typically reserved for individuals in dire need, this particular allocation benefited a structure on an 80,000sqm plot designated as natural cover (forest).
He further revealed that the site lacks proper access, yet the electricity department sanctioned a three-phase connection, allegedly costing lakhs. The company, he claimed, is now using this connection to push for land conversion, which could threaten the integrity of surrounding forested areas.
Sarpanch Naik stated that the panchayat might revoke the EHN, citing misleading information provided by the applicant. A notice will be sent to the concerned party seeking further clarification.
The gram sabha also deliberated on reports of miscreants causing disturbances near Mandur church at night and concerns over damage to a natural spring in Azossim due to an ongoing project. The panchayat assured action to address these grievances