Team Herald
CURCHOREM: Citizens have demanded the suspension of ore transportation through Tilamol, Quepem, until a special mining corridor has been constructed. They have also decided to stop ore transportation at Tilamol on Friday after failing to get any assurance that the same would be stopped.
The demand came at a special meeting convened by Quepem Deputy Collector Shankar Gaonkar in his chamber on Thursday, a day after two women died on the spot after being hit by a truck in Tilamol.
Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral, who attended the meeting, told the residents that the work of a mining bypass at Kalay had been left incomplete by the contractor and added, “We will start the work again by floating a new tender within a month.”
Regarding the status of the land accusation from Culwada to Shirvoi for a bypass road, Cabral made no comment as the land belonged to the Forest Department.
When people demanded a complete stop to mining transportation through Curchorem constituency, Cabral said that he would convene a meeting of his 27,000 residents from two panchayats and a municipal council to hear their views and suggestions, and that he would act accordingly.
“I do not have anything to do with mining transportation. I am with the people and no mining company has informed me about the same while resuming mining activities,” said Sanguem MLA Subhash Phal Dessai.
Deputy Collector Gaonkar has assured to take steps to sort out the issue, while accepting a memorandum submitted by some citizens demanding immediate action as uncontrolled and speedy transportation of ore was claiming innocent lives. He also assured to take up the issue with the higher authorities.
