TEAM HERALD
ST ESTEVAM: Supporting public opposition to the controversial dumping of mud in low-lying area of Palni bundh, the St Estevam Panchayat has appealed to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and State authorities to take suo motto cognizance in the matter.
Acting on a Herald report, St Estevam Sarpanch Camilo Menezes has said the panchayat has pledged its support to the St Estevam Gaunkars Forum, which has taken up this issue to fight injustice against local farmers.
It may be recalled that government officials had inspected the site on February 20, following objections by residents over the alleged conversion of an inner bundh into a six-metre wide road.
Dissatisfied with responses from the local panchayat, agriculture department and Soil Conservation Division, the villagers formed the ‘St Estevam Gaunkars Forum’ and obtained facts under Right to Information (RTI).
The locals learnt that the inner bunds, which were not even 2.5 mtrs in width, were being converted into a 6-mtr road by vested interests. They got further agitated on learning that the proposed road on the broadened bund would touch the side wall of the Jua Cemetery.
Seeking to inform villagers and government officials of the panchayat’s efforts in this matter, Menezes said: “St Estevam panchayat had, first and foremost, objected to the repair work of the Palni bund by using mud and rubble.”
“As per ecological norms, no bund can be repaired by dumping mud, as the mud during monsoon gets washed away into the fields and cultivation of paddy cannot take place as the mud is not suitable for paddy crops.”
Besides being a ward member of the area, Menezes said he had been residing there for the last 50 years.
“Since my birth, I have never observed that the Palni bund was repaired by using mud. Instead, our ancestors who lived in the said area for decades/generations would repair the bundh by removing silt from rivulets adjoining the bund.”
“Secondly, the rivulets were being used for fish breeding and the rivulets adjoining the sluice gate would be auctioned. The money received from the auction was used to repair the Palni bundh.”
“But because the silt has not been removed from the rivulet, the level of the rivulet and the field has become identical. It is very difficult to identify the rivulet and the field. This has also affected breeding of fish, thereby causing a loss to the villagers, as fish is not available in the rivulets due to dumping of mud on the bundh,” said Menezes. The sarpanch claimed that the practice of dumping mud in low-lying areas would destroy the ecology in the area.
“This panchayat was in the process of informing the NGT, but after legal opinion it has been found that a petition has to be filed before the NGT for necessary orders. Since this panchayat is financially weak, we are unable to do so,” admitted Menezes.
“Following a report in the Herald, it was brought to our notice that the St Estevam Gaonkars Forum has taken up this issue to fight the injustice to the farmers of the village. The panchayat would also support the good cause of the villagers at large.”
“We would also request the biodiversity board, the GCZMA, the Pollution Control Board and the National Green Tribunal to take suo motto cognizance of the illegal dumping of mud in low-lying areas and an FIR be lodged in the matter.”
Menezes insisted that the guilty must be directed to remove the mud and bring the bundh to its original condition. “The panchayat would appreciate if the green tribunal passes necessary orders in the matter and book the culprits for this ecological damage,” he added.
