CURCHOREM: Citizens from Curchorem, Quepem and surrounding areas assembled at Tilamol junction once again on Tuesday. Their aim was to stop and oppose the transportation of ore through Tilamol and other roads till a proper infrastructure is created by the government.
Later, the citizens went around mobilising support for their cause. Their aim was to create awareness among the masses for the need of bypass which would avoid fatal road accidents.
Speaking to the media, Xeldem Sarpanch Promod Gauns Dessai admitted that gram sabha resolutions are not binding on the government. The gram sabha on Sunday had passed a resolution to ban ore transportation through Tilamol. Dessai said he was with the people demanding a bypass and would join them in their protests.
Condemning the response given by Quepem Deputy Collector Shanker Gaonkar and Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral, Mission bypass member Pradip Kakodkar said the deputy collector has proved he is not with the public despite being a law enforcement authority.
“Instead of being with the public the local MLA Cabral suggested short-term measures. To make matters worse he is also challenging the resolution adopted by the Quepem Municipal Council (QMC) and Xeldem Gram Sabha saying there was no quorum to pass the resolution,” said Kakodkar.
While referring to the mining director’s interview on a local channel about the 600 challans issued to trucks, Kakodkar said that this meant the government is admitting that 600 trucks are violating the law per day. “This proves that there are chances of accidents occurring and that our demand for the bypass and the halt of ore transportation is justified,” he added.
He also informed that he had submitted a letter to chief officer and chairperson of Curchorem-Cacora Municipal Council (CCMC) urging them to take a similar resolution and join the people at Tilamol with his councillors on Wednesday.
CCMC Chairperson Vishwas Sawant admitted that he received the letter and would put the request before the councillors and a decision would be taken after discussions with them.
QMC Chairperson Filu D’Costa informed that he had sent the copy of the resolution passed by the 10 councillors to Deputy Collector, SP, PI, Traffic Cell, RTO, and Mines Department but there was no response from anyone.
“We will wait for their reply and then we will decide accordingly,” said D’Costa.
Stating that the resolution passed by the QMC is very powerful as there are 10,000 people behind the 10 councillors, D’Costa said they would not allow the transportation through Quepem town with people’s support.
