ABEL PASCOAL BARRETTO
abel@herald-goa.com
CANACONA: Hundreds of Poinguinim villagers under the umbrella “Save Kulti Plateau” assembled recently to take action by fighting tooth and nail and put a permanent stop to the industrial activities responsible for environmental pollution at the eco sensitive Kulti plateau.
Various speakers during a lengthy deliberation that took place at Sadolxem highlighted the ill effects and disadvantages of the existence and operation of hot-mix plant and ready-mixed concrete plants on this plateau admeasuring lakhs of sq mts. A village level committee was established and it was decided that this pollution-causing plants are to be shut down as soon as possible as the health of the people residing around this plateau is getting affected due to dust, sound, air and water pollution.
The younger generations were entrusted with the task of visiting each and every house in Sadolxem, Muthal, Talpona, Galgibaga, Catebagh and Poinguinim to elucidate the irreversible damage these industries falling in red category are causing. Elders pointed out that this sacred plateau was a breeding ground for Indian Bull frog with lakhs and lakhs of this endangered species migrating at this plateau during monsoon for breeding.
“Today we don’t see a single bull frog at this plateau, the forest department is penalising with even imprisonment if anyone is found poaching this amphibian; but they have remained mute spectators over the activities which are causing harm not only to the amphibians but to all other wild life”, Diogo Da Silva lamented.
Pradeep Mokhardkar further explained that the information obtained through RTI from Goa State Pollution Control Board has revealed dozens of non-conformities.
The locals have been voicing their concerns from the time this highly polluting hot-mix plant, ready-mixed concrete plant and the open defecation from the illegal hutments meant to house the labourers have come up on this most eco sensitive plateau.
“The violations by one of the companies are so glaring and have been noted by the Goa State Pollution Control Board, yet it has totally failed to contain the polluting activities,” stated the noted social activist Mokhardkar.
Piedade Barretto from Mhagdal stated “that the sound pollution in the night from the activities on the plateau is giving them sleepless nights.”
Further social activist Rosario Viegas also from Mhagdal said their drinking water wells are running dry due to extraction of water through bore wells by the contractor to support the polluting activities.
The meeting ceased with villagers unanimously agreeing to dash off a letter to the forest and wild life department and other authorities to order closure of this unit or otherwise villagers would be forced to take law into their own hands, it was unanimously decided.
