Team Herald
SANGUEM: Officials from the Department of Mines and Geology led by Sudin Mandrekar accompanied by Deputy Collector Sanguem Sagar Gaude, Mamlatdar Manoj Korgaonkar and PI Sanguem Pravin Gains on Tuesday conducted a joint site inspection of the five quarries in operation in the Uguem village following the memorandum submitted by the villagers demanding immediate closure of bassalt quarries.
They assure the villagers to conduct survey of the bassalt quarries in next eight days time.
The villagers in their memorandum had alleged that the quarry operators functioning illegally and as the licenses issued by the Department of Mines and Geology have expired long back.
The villagers also alleged that the quarry operators undertake illegal blasting operations that have consequently damaged their houses and further claimed they are largely responsible for pollution in the nearby areas.
A quarry operator Jason Pereira claimed that all the quarry operators have due licenses to operate their leases and alleged the villagers to have filed baseless and false complaint against them.
Pereira argued that two villagers had approached them for permission to extract bassalt stones upon denial by the operators the issue is being raised. Pereira alleged that those two villagers of misguiding others for their selfish motto.
The villagers however denied these allegations and claimed none of the villagers of having contacted the quarry operators for sub lease.
