Agitation against bore wells in Baina gains momentum

VASCO, MARCH 14
The struggle of residents from Sasmollem-Baina against illegal bore well operators has received a boost, with people from surrounding areas joining in the agitation.
The parish priest of Our Lady of Candelaria Church, who has supported the agitation, mobilized support during the evening church services, by asking parishioners to fight against exploitation of water resources due to continuous pumping of ground water.
After the services, a poster exhibition and a signature campaign were staged outside the church and a meeting has been convened on March 18 at 4.30 pm near Candelaria School ground.
Meanwhile, Water Resources Department Executive Engineer H M
Rangaraju has directed the pump operators to stop pumping of water, as they are operating without permission under the Goa Ground Water Regulation Act 2002.
The executive engineer has also ordered the pump operators to stop operations till their applications for permission to pump water, which
has been pending since the last seven months, is decided.
Meanwhile, Assistant Executive Engineer of Water Resources Department N Paili on Saturday inspected the four illegal bore wells operating in
Sasmollem-Baina, after residents lodged a police complaint against
operators for continuing their operation despite the stop order.
Later, Paili met Vasco PI Braz Menezes to brief him about the case.