TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The Rs five-crore concrete road in Cuncolim is finally out, with the government excavating the concrete to make way for a hot-mixed carpet at a cost of Rs 3.15 crore.
The excavated concrete, however, has kicked up a row as the debris has found its way behind the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, opposite the Cuncolim Municipal garbage dump yard. Activists and citizens have questioned the rationale of dumping the concrete rubble near the industrial estate.
When Herald drew the attention of the Cuncolim Municipal Chairperson Devendra Desai to throw light on the dumping of the debris near the industrial estate, he said it is being dumped in a private property and denied the same has found its way in CMC acquired land for the proposed sewage treatment. “I have inspected the site where the debris is being dumped, but the property in question does not belong to the Cuncolim municipality. I have personally verified the position on the ground”, Desai added.
Local social activists, however, are not convinced by the arguments advanced by the Cuncolim civic body. Activist Ronny Dias has demanded to know whether the PWD has issued any directions to the road contractor vis-a-vis the concrete waste. “People of Cuncolim would like to know from the PWD the terms and conditions set to the contractor with regard to the waste. Has the PWD given any directions to the contractor to dispose of the debris as per his whims and fancies?” Dias asked, while seeking to know whether the PWD has any obligation towards the environment.
That’s not all. Questions are being asked whether the contractor has sought permissions to dump the waste in the village and whether the Goa State Pollution Control Board has tested the debris since a lot of special chemicals were used in the concrete. “We would like to know whether the debris will have any impact on the environment including the ground water?” Dias questioned, while demanding to know the role of the Cuncolim Municipal Council.
