VASCO, MARCH 12
A three-year-old struggle of residents from Sasmollem-Baina against illegal water pump operators seems to be leading nowhere, despite orders by authorities.
There appears to be no solution to the problem despite stop orders from water resource department and directives of the high court to the department to take cognizance of illegal water pumping activities.
Residents have now convened a public meeting at Our lady of Candelaria School ground, Sasmollem-Baina, on March 18 at 4.30 pm to chalk out their future course of action.
After realizing that the agitation was turning out to be a futile excise, residents on Thursday lodged a compliant with Vasco police against illegal bore well owners.
The residents had earlier approached the high court to get rid of illegal pumping and the high court had asked the residents to withdraw their petition, after directing the department to take necessary action against illegal bore well owners.
Following the intervention of Minister for Water Resources Filip Neri Rodrigues, officials of water resource departmentt issued show cause notices to the illegal bore well owners. They inspected the site and took samples of the water from nine different open wells, which were drying due to round-the-clock pumping of groundwater.
When residents pursued the matter with the minister, Executive Engineer H.M Rangaraja on March 2 issued a stop order and directed the illegal bore well owners to stop transportation of the groundwater with immediate effect, pending decision.
Although the order was received by the illegal bore well owners on March 5 and instead of following the order, transportation of groundwater is going on unabated.
