CURCHOREM: Hundreds of citizens from Curchorem-Quepem and surrounding areas assembled at the Tilamol junction on Monday and unanimously decided to stop and oppose the mining transportation activities through Tilamol and other roads till a proper infrastructure is created by the government.
Appealing the mining belt MLAs to work unitedly for a bypass, Quepem MLA Chandrakant Babu Kavalekar informed the gathering that he is not against the mining as the government is generating revenue. He said he is aware how the people are suffering for the last four years due to the mining activities. He insisted the government create a proper infrastructure and should not wait till another fatal accident takes place.
“The bypass road should be completed at least on the land where land is already acquired. If the government does not want to give credit to the erstwhile Congress, then it should identify new ways and complete the bypass at the earliest to avoid the hardships faced by the people,” said Kavalekar.
Later the citizens’ core committee members called on the Quepem Deputy Collector Shanker Gaonkar who told them that he is not in a position to accept their demands but only he can convey it to the higher ups.
They also called on Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral who told them that he cannot take any decision but assured them to take immediate short-term measures.
Local activist Pradip Kakodkar told the media that they are not happy with the response of the deputy collector as well Curchorem MLA. He said they would continue with the agitation and will not allow transportation till the government puts the required infrastructure in place. He alleged that law enforcement authorities have miserably failed to act and this has forced the people to come on the street.
“People are dying like animals in road accidents. Now threats will be issued to those who are opposing the transportation,” said Prashant Naik of Goa Forward. He demanded a criminal offence be registered against the truck owner, driver, contractor and mine owner.
Addressing the media Cabral said that the land required for bypass road which was supposed to pass through Rivona cannot be acquired till the new Act is passed by the parliament. “The work which was started on the bypass road on the acquired land was discontinued by the contractor and the new tender will be floated within a few days,” said Cabral.
When asked about the resolution passed by the Quepem Municipality will not stop if resolutions are passed.
“People come together and take resolutions but it is up to the government to accept and implement them,” added Cabral.
Cabral said that only 10 people were present for the Xeldem gram sabha and could not a resolution. “I will ask them to convene a special gram sabha and urge the people to take a decision in this regard,” Cabral informed.
