Team Herald
PONDA: Dharbandora locals complaining over the mystery of Dudhsagar River water occasionally flowing red since last one and a half months, on Tuesday, warned to stage agitation next week if the source of pollution is not traced and stopped by the Water Resources Department.
The locals claimed that Dudhsagar River flows clean from Dudhsagar Falls, Collem, and questioned how can it turn muddy at downstream.
“Taking advantage of the rains, the mining firms are releasing mining slurry into the river at Kalley, Karmane to create an impression that the water is flowing muddy due to rains,” they alleged.
However, the locals questioned how it is getting polluted only from some distant away from the mining firm site.
The locals refused to buy the argument of WRD officials that it may flowing muddy due to heavy rains at upstream. Thus, the mystery prevailing over the issue with no satisfactory clarification by the officials. The same muddy water flows at OPA Plant downstream, where it is treated and supplied to Tiswadi and Ponda Talukas.
According to locals, before the Dudhsagar River water reaches at OPA Water Treatment Plant, Dharbandora, water is pumped and supplied to villagers of Dharbandora. However, due to pollution of river, which they firmly suspect mining slurry is being released at Kalley, Karmane, by one mining firm, the water turns red and muddy and the filters installed near the water pumps get choked due to muddy water. Due to polluted river water, the locals are forced to stop the water supplied through pumps.
Further, the locals claim that most of time the OPA Plant and WRD officials say they don’t know the reason, but suspect it is due to heavy rains.
Therefore, locals want the government to trace the source of pollution of river.
Raju Kuttikar, a Dharbandora local said, “The muddy water supply may invite health hazard. We are forced to shut the water pumps and thus face water shortage.”
Guru Gaonkar said, “Since past many days the river water is getting polluted. The government officials should not test the patience of locals and must expose the people involved in polluting the river, failing which locals will stage agitation.”
“The government should solve the river water pollution problem as it is dangerous to people’s health,” added Bhola Gaonkar.
Bethora resident Hemant Samant said, “Nobody has the right to play with people’s health. The government needs to take strict action against the culprits responsible for alleged muddy water release into river.”
