Panch members of Chicalim Panchayat visited the wells in the Matvem area on Wednesday to check for fuel contamination. They stated that the Government has done nothing to compensate the local residents who will continue to suffer from contamination of water and land. They reiterated their demand for CBI Enquiry and threatened to approach the Court to seek justice for the residents. They also demanded that the panchayat take serious action against the company responsible for the fuel leakage.
“It is high time that the deputy collector, the disaster management committee, and the officials from the water resource and agriculture departments. visit this place, see the ground reality, and act against the company. The soil contamination, even if not directly affecting the fields’ water, poses a threat to future cultivation,” a Panch member emphasized.
Highlighting the alarming impact on heritage sites and the potential risk of contaminating the Zuari River, the Panchayat urged immediate action to prevent irreversible damage to the ecology. Residents shared harrowing experiences, citing persistent health issues such as burning sensations in their eyes, persisting over 1 ½ months since the leakage. There is a burning sensation in our eyes even though it has been more than 1 ½ months,” said the panch member. He demanded that the government and the company compensate the locals. He stated that the panchayat would approach the authorities to take strict action.
Demanding accountability, the Panchayat insisted on compensation from both the government and the responsible company while vowing to escalate the matter to higher authorities to ensure strict measures are taken.
However, local residents voiced dissatisfaction, alleging authorities’ apathy towards their complaints during the initial leakage. “The lack of action by authorities is distressing. The Panchayat must intervene to prevent further ecological damage,” a resident lamented.
Government authorities sealed a well in the Matvem-Dabolim area following the discovery of petroleum product contamination on November 28th. Subsequently, additional reports surfaced of fuel films in streams and nullahs, escalating concerns over widespread contamination in the area.
