TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The Goemchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) has written to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), objecting to the move by Zuari Agro Chemicals to build a captive jetty.
“GRE strongly objects to the location of the Zuari jetty at Santrem, Chicolna, because the raw materials handled by ZACL are highly toxic and polluting. Any accidental spillage will chemically pollute the waters killing fish instantaneously (as recently happened at MPT Vasco) and affect livelihood of hundreds of traditional families of fishermen,” GRE President Agnelo Rodrigues said in a statement.
He said that villages of Bogmalo, Baina, Velsao, Cansaulim, Utorda, Majorda and the ones right up to Colva and other places which provide rich fishing grounds have enabled the traditional fishermen to carry on their activities unhindered for the last few centuries. These would be affected, he added.
“Further, many families are engaged in collection of clams and shellfish. Dredging and construction activity will disturb the seabed and adversely affect the ecology of the area and catch of the traditional fishermen will be drastically reduced,” Rodrigues said.
The GRE fears that the jetty coming up in Survey No 13 of Chicolna village of VP Bogmalo (which is right next to their net-mending shed located in Survey No 14) will be used to handle raw material like liquid ammonia, phosphoric acid, white oils and urea.
