22 Sep 2019  |   05:16am IST

OPEN PITS or DEATH TRAPS?

The tragic incident a week ago in Tuem, wherein four school students lost their lives after drowning in a stone quarry pit, was an eye opener for Goa. The incident brought to fore the illegal laterite stone quarries operating in the state and also the way they have been left open after finishing work. The open pits have become death traps for the citizens. The quarries are not only an environment hazard it is now a huge threat to the residents of the state. What is even more shocking is that the National Green Tribunal, hearing a petition from and NGO, had asked the State to look into the illegal open pits as well as the illegal business. For four months the State did nothing and the result – loss of four innocent lives. TEAM HERALD takes a look at the illegal laterite stone quarry business and the open pits throughout Goa...

In the aftermath of the recent fatal accident, that saw four young boys lose their lives in a watery grave, an abandoned and illegal stone quarry in Tuem, locals are criticising the authorities for waking up too late. They point out that a lot more could have been done to avert this disaster from occurring in the first place.  Now, as a survey is finally being conducted to study this problem that is prevalent across Goa, there are worries if this will just be an eye-wash and forgotten later.

 

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Tuem quarry tragedy: Did the govt ignore warning signs?

The recent tragedy has brought to light the shocking lapses on the part of the government. The fact that the department has failed to act on such illegalities has proved to be fatal in this case and questions have been rasied whether the government has kept the correct record of the same to begin with.

In Pernem taluka, locals are very familiar with the word quarries (khaan) as every village has atleast one quarry. However, as per the government records, the quarries are located only in villages of Tuem, Corgao, Casarwadnem, Ozorim, Torxem, Mandrem and Parcem village.

  But, off the record, sources say they can locate alleged quarries in other parts of Pernem at villages of Palyem, Patradevi, Ugvem, Warkhand, Agarwada, Keri, Mopa and Dhargal.

As per records, there are 37 people who are have carried out quarrying activity in parts of Pernem taluka for the last many years. However, again, the actual number of people involved in quarrying is allegedly more than 200.

From the list of 37 people, 30 people have carried out quarrying activity on private land and 7 people have carried out on government land. Out of 7 government properties, 6 are located in Tuem and one in Parcem. However sources alleged that the number of quarries are 4 times the official number.

 

It maybe recalled that in the year 2002, the government had stopped issuing licences to carry out quarry activity.

But locals are questioning how then are there repeated accidents taking place in quarries. For instance, the recent unfortunate fatal accident was the fourth incident in Pernem, where there was a case of death by drowning in these deep abondoned quarries.

  In the past incidents, three lives were lost. Irate locals point out that its not only an unsafe envirionment for humans, animals have often fallen into these quarries, many times thinking it is a place they can quench their thirst. Here too, it takes time before one discoveres about the injured animal and during the monsoon, it is tough to carry out rescue operations.

In the recent case, the four deceased had gone to wash their hands and legs and accidently fell into the quarry.

Locals say these are questions for the govenrment to answer as to why it has failed to ensure that such type of accidents do not occur.

With no proper barricade or sign board stating that there is quarry located close by, one can easily move around the quarry. These quarries pose danger during the monsoon when youth venture them for swimming or other recretational activity.

The fewpeople carrying out quarrying activities stated that even though barricades have been put in some cases , people open it and enter the quarry to swim.

 

While a few of these quarries are filled with mud, some are partially filled but most are left open.

 

Meanwhile, while many of the quarry owners are Pernem locals, sources have alleged that that some qarries are being used to carry out alleged mining activity.

  Sources added that it is not limited to private land only but that allegeed illegal mining is being carried out in government acquired lands at Mopa and Dhargal for projects like Ayush Hospital and Greenfield airport ,which is totally illegal.

In view of the recent case and complaints from locals, the talathis have been ordered to

  make a fresh report of the present status of pits located in different villages on immediate basis. This will be verified later and action will be initaited against those which are found to be open.

  Sources added that befor the Lok Sabha elections, the deputy collectors had issued notices to all the quarry owners to report to the administration’s office but this eventually got sidetracked due to the then election process.

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Livestock are in danger of falling into these pits

With good demand for dimension stones, and no tangible replacement yet, laterite which is found abundantly in Goa has been mined from south Goa since ages.
These laterite layer beneath the surface of the ground is found mostly from a depth of a few meters up to 25 mts.
The mining of these dimension stones, which was done manually by using iron tools has now been done by modifying power tiller by fixing a rotary blade. This helps in cutting the stone to an uniform size.
Once sufficient stones are mined from a particular pit, it leaves a void in the ground, which is left unsecured most of the time due to the cost involved in refilling or fencing the periphery of the pit.
During rainy season water gets filled in these pits making it more dangerous for humans and animals who accidentally land up and drown if help doesn't arrive immediately.

Animal lovers and locals complained that the quarry operators mostly abandon the pits as it involves

  a lot of cost to refill these pits with soil.
"Neither they fence the pits which is mandatory as per the existing laws" emphasized locals, who wanr that wild and domestic animals who might fall into these unguarded pits .

Further, there are allegedly such active and abandoned quarries in Paryemoll near Barcem from where laterite stone to build houses and boundaries are supplied to the construction sites.

 

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Govt says few quarries only, locals claim otherwise

About 11 government stone quarries, which are operational in Bicholim, as per the official record, have been directed by the mamlatdar to take precautionary measures.

  The police have also been directed to depute police personnel at the site.

Even as per the records there are only 11 government stone quarries in Bicholim there are several alleged illegal stone quarries, which are either abandoned or operate in full swing.

In Bicholim, there are more than 10 quarries in Van-Maulinguem-Kudchirem panchayat. Being close to the border there is demand for these stones not only in Goa but also in the neighbouring Maharashtra.

Recently the mamlatdar had raided some of these stone quarries and had also seized two trucks and some other material. For some days the quarries stopped its operation but soon they again started.

Further, there have been instances where these quarries were also used for murders and disposal of the dead bodies. Being away from the main village, these quarries become heaven for anti-social elements.

These quarries can also be found in Amthane, Usap, Latambarcem, Karapur and Mayem.

 “It is really a bad incident that occurred at Pernem but in Bicholim there are several incidents wherein cattle and wild animals have died in these quarries but no one highlights it,” said Kashinath Mayekar from Mayem.

“These quarries are very dangerous and the government should take proper precautions and see to it that there are some safety measures taken up at these quarries,” Mayekar added.

The Van-Maulinguem-Kudchirem Sarpanch, Sheetal Sawal had the same opinion. “We as the panchayat cannot stop the quarries and the government authorities should take proper precautions and see to it that such incidents do not occur,” said Sawal.

The Bicholim Mamlatdar, Pravinjay Pandit said that he has issued orders to the police and others to see to it that safety in maintained at these quarries. “We have directed the Bicholim Police Inspector to depute police personnel at all the government stone quarries. I have also directed the traffic cell to put barricades and fencing in the vicinity of government quarries, to avoid any untoward incident in the taluka,” Pandit added.

 

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Even after action taken, extraction activity continues

 

 

 Locals are worried about the hundreds of open abandoned laterite stone quarries located in private and government land at Ponda and Dharbandora Taluka in villages like Bethora, Nirankal, Usgao and other areas.

  Locals have called for immediate action against all illegalities.

 

 

Moreover, despite directions being issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), they question the government’s lackadaisical approach.

 

In the monsoon, these open quarries are filled with rain water posing a risk to the lives of locals and livestock.

From not being fenced properly, they worry about what will happen to an unsuspecting child who could reach these areas.

  Locals point out that cattle have lost lives by drowning in these abandoned quarries. They are frustrated with the apathy exhibited by private owners and the government and lament that the government will only jump into action after a fatal accident.

Incidentally, recently a Sanjivani Sugar Factory official had even filed a police complaint alleging illegal extraction of laterite at night from a quarry, which is on land owned by Sanjivani.

Speaking about these dangerous quarries and concerns expressed by locals, Ponda Deputy Collector Kedar Naik said that he has directed the talathis to carry out a survey to evaluate the condition of the stone quarries. These would include the stone quarries which are in operation and those lying abandoned. He added that he expects to receive the report soon.

To a similar question posted to Dharbandora Mamlatdar Abeer Hede, he referred to a raid they had conducted two months ago in the taluka, following which an FIR was lodged against illegal stone quarries.

  He added that some of the land belonged to the government belonged to private parties and some of it is owned by Sanjivani sugar factory. He further added that raids had also been conducted on activity in a stone quarry on government land where they seized the truck and machinery involved.