Areal protests basalt quarrying
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JAN 26
Villagers of Sao Jose de Areal under the banner of Scheduled Tribe Association held a dharna outside the office of the Curtorim Communidade on Sunday demanding the restoration of the hills devastated by black metal quarrying.
Armed with banners demanding a stop to the destruction of the village and hills for money and greed, the villagers, including children vowed to fight to protect the village from further destruction.
They pointed out that despite objections and complaints regarding the illegal activities of extraction of basalt stones from the hills, there is no stop to the illegal activity for reasons best known to the Communidade.
Agitated villagers requested officials of the Communidade to inspect the devastated hills in the village, saying the quarries are now filled with contaminated waters, posing health hazard to the local residents.
While requesting the Communidade to restore the devastated hills to its original shape as the depth of the cutting has gone beyond the limits, the villagers said that is now dangerous for the human beings as well as the animals.
“Major devil is established in the village of Sao Jose de Areal village by the Curtorim Communidade, by giving lease to operate 40 quarries and more than 60 stone crushers”, they pointed out.
Secretary of the ST Association Josephina Viegas told Herald that the villagers has come to draw attention of the Communidade share holders that they have come to collect their shares when the Communidade has devastated the once picturesque hills. “We have urged the Communidade to restore our hill that has been ravaged for money and greed”, she added.
Association member Freddy Travasso said the Curtorimm Communidade has allotted land admeasuring 5000 sq mts to each of the 40 quarries when the local villagers are facing land shortage for housing.
“We have held a dharna to inform the Communidade shareholders what is happening in Sao Jose de Areal. Quarring for basalt stones has left the village devastated”, he said, while calling upon the Communidade to immediately hold inspection of the devastated hills.
“Aaround 250 trucks are coming out of the hills almost everyday. This illegal activity should be stopped forthwith”, he demanded, even as the villagers pledged to protect their village for posterity.
