-- Samir Umarye The failure of the railway authorities to construct afence to protect the students from the danger of aspeeding train has forced most parents to withdraw their children from the government middle school at Narve, which has now been reduced to only four students.
A school barely metres away from the railway track in Bicholim Taluka has been causing considerable concern among parents, but what has upset them most is that railway authorities have failed to construct a fence to protect the students from the dangers of a speeding train. Left with little option, most parents have withdrawn their children from the government middle school at Narve- Bicholim and the school has now been reduced to a meagre four students. Residents of Narve have been urging the Konkan Railway to build a fence not only for the safety of students in the vicinity, but also because the railway track is also very close to the main road and the Narve Panchayat. The Konkan Railway track was laid between Gaonkarwada and Murdiwada in Narve village and a trench was dug to enable rail authorities to lay the tracks on a lower level. Two overhead bridges were also constructed a few years ago. “ One of the bridges is very small while the other bridge has become very slippery,” said a resident, Shasikant Narvekar. The trench is a few metres from the main road and in front of the Narve Panchayat while the government middle school and a ground lie on the other side of the track. “ Every day, many pedestrians and motorists travel on the main road but there is no fence built by the side of this road. This has posed a major threat to those passing along the road,” said Narvekar. Added another resident, Samir Shetgaonkar, “ In the absence of a fence many people from the village are reluctant to send their children to school which is very close to the railway track.” “ The situation is such that parents now prefer to send their children to a school at Haturlim and hence, the strength of this school has dwindled and there are now only four students here,” he added. The unprotected railway track has also posed a danger to those unfamiliar with the area. “ Many of the newcomers take this route while proceeding to or from Chorao. An unsuspecting motorist could well fall into the trench as there is no signboard to warn the motorist about the unprotected track,” said Shetgaonkar. “ There have been instances when some animals have fallen into the trench and had to be rescued. There is an urgent need to build a fence to avoid any untoward incidents,” Shetgaonkar added. When contacted, Narve Sarpanch Pratishta Mishal claimed that the Konkan Railway did not pay heed to their requests. “ Last year, eight animals got killed in a single incident. I personally called up the Konkan Railway but they only told me to file a police complaint and to investigate the matter. Later, the panchayat reported the matter to the police,” said Mishal. “ About a decade ago, the panchayat had written to the Konkan Railway and a few poles were erected by them, but since then nothing has been done even though there have been many incidents of animals falling into the trench and many have been killed in the process,” the sarpanch added. Claiming that there has been a growing demand from villagers for a fence near the tracks, Mishal said the residents have also passed a resolution in this connection during the Gram Sabha. “ We request the Konkan Railway to build a fence on both sides of the tracks. We also urge our local MLA to intervene in the matter,” said Mishal. When contacted, Deputy Speaker and Mayem MLA Anant Shet told that he was aware about the gravity of the situation and assured to look into the matter. “ I know how dangerous it is for everyone. We will write to the Konkan Railway and if they are not willing to erect the fence, then the government will build the fence with the help of the PWD,” said Shet. A major safety hazard confronts students of the government middle school at Narve- Bicholim, as the school is barely metres away from the railway track. SAMEER UMARYE bIChOLIM
