PANJIM: Against the backdrop of the death of a 10-year-old in the laterite stone mine, civic and consumer forum has petitioned Mines & Geology Department seeking for an Action Plan to prevent drowning cases in stone quarries.
GOACAN in its letter to Director of Mines & Geology (DMG) Vivek H P pointed out the urgent need to prepare a comprehensive Action Plan for the State with the help of all allied departments, to ensure that all quarries in North Goa & South Goa Districts have protective fencing and appropriate public notices of Caution with Emergency Helpline Numbers.
On August 17, the 10-year-old boy drowned in a laterite stone quarry at Bicholim. It is reported that the child was part of a group of families undertaking a nature trek in that village. The body was retrieved by the Bicholim Fire Station staff from the quarry filled with rainwater and which did not have any protective fencing.
“It is evident from earlier news reports of drowning incidents, that there are many stone quarries legal and illegal in the Bicholim, Pernem and Sattari in North Goa and Quepem, Sanguem, Canacona and Dharbandora in South that presently are not in operation due to the ongoing monsoon. These quarries which have been left unattended, without any fencing and filled with rainwater have become death traps for the local people,” GOACAN co-ordinator Roland Martins said in the letter submitted to Mines Director on Wednesday.
To prevent untoward incidents at such sites, GOACAN has further urged the department to undertake site inspection of all the legal and illegal quarries along with the local officials and prepare a report on the present state of protective fencing provided.
