Team Herald
PONDA: The Goa Pollution Control Board (GPCB) inspected a well in Kerya, Khandepar and a scrapyard in Bethora in connection with the illegal dumping
of garbage.
The action follows last week's incident where locals from Khandepar caught a scrap-laden truck attempting to dump waste into a roadside well near Kerya, located at the foothills of a hillock along the National Highway. The truck was promptly handed over to the police for further investigation.
During the inquiry, it was revealed that the garbage-laden truck had come from a scrapyard in Bethora. As part of the investigation, GPCB officials also visited the scrapyard to assess the situation. Officials stated that higher authorities would take appropriate action regarding the matter.
The locals have expressed concerns and are demanding the removal of the garbage from the well. They also called for the protection of this ancient, open well, which is situated at the foothill by the roadside.
Environmentalist Sandeep Parkar has emphasised the need for the well to be protected by the Water Resources Department (WRD). He also suggested the construction of a retaining wall or safety railings around the well to prevent accidents involving livestock, wild animals, or individuals passing through the area. The well is approximately 10 to 12 metres deep and situated 8 to 10 metres from the roadside. It is a historically and artistically significant structure, carved from laterite stone in a circular design.
Parkar added that the well could serve as a source of quality water for both agricultural and emergency purposes, given its strategic location at the foothills. Locals have reiterated the demand for a protective railing or retaining wall around the well to ensure the safety of both humans and animals. Currently, the well lacks any form of protective barrier.