JOSEPH FERNANDES
joseph@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: In a swift response to a report published by O Heraldo on the alarming situation at the Tillari dam site, officials from Goa’s Water Resources Department (WRD) visited the area to evaluate the extent of quarrying activity, on Wednesday. The visit came after growing concerns about the safety of the dam, which supplies water to key regions in Goa.
During their visit, WRD officials expressed shock at the scale of illegal quarrying and described the situation as ‘very risky’ for the dam’s stability. Environmentalist Ramesh Gawas, who also visited the site, emphasised the potential consequences of continued blasting in the flood plains of Tillari. He warned that any disruption to the dam’s water supply could severely impact Goa’s tourism industry, which relies heavily on water from Tillari to support the talukas of Pernem, Bicholim and Bardez.
"Goa was promised 2.4 lakh cubic litres of water from Tillari, and without it, tourism in key regions could face a crisis," Gawas warned. He noted that Goa invested Rs 1,100 crore in the dam’s construction, while Maharashtra contributed Rs 400 crore.
Gawas urged authorities from both states to conduct a joint inspection and take immediate action to stop illegal quarrying in the vicinity of the dam.
Gawas also highlighted that quarrying debris had accumulated in parts of the water canal, posing a severe flooding risk during the monsoon season. He stressed that unless action is taken swiftly, the impact on Goa's water security could be devastating.
Meanwhile, residents of Khanyale in Dodamarg have intensified their protest, demanding a written assurance from authorities to halt quarrying activities. The villagers, who have been on strike for over a week, expressed disappointment with the Goa WRD officials' visit. They claimed the team inspected a different quarry and failed to visit the primary site of concern or engage with the protesters.
"The officials ignored the main quarry, where the most dangerous blasting occurs," said protester Nagraj Naik. "We won’t end our strike without a clear commitment from the authorities to stop this hazardous activity."
The residents’ concerns are rooted in fears of a potential landslide during the upcoming monsoon, which they believe could devastate their village. According to local resident Rajan Shetye, Khanyale’s 1,200 villagers face serious risks if the damaged hill collapses. "Years of unchecked quarrying have weakened the hill. If a landslide occurs, it will wipe out our homes, fields and families," Shetye warned.
Tensions escalated when local MLA Deepak Kesarkar proposed a compromise that would allow quarrying to continue under certain conditions. Villagers rejected the suggestion, insisting that their safety was non-negotiable.
Adding to the villagers' concerns are reports of poor conditions faced by quarry labourers. Protesters claimed that over 20 workers live in makeshift shelters near the dam without proper sanitation, contributing to contamination of the canal water.