At the meeting, villagers questioned GSPCB Chairman Jose Noronha for allowing the contractor to use toxic slag for the bye-pass road polluting paddy fields when the same was declared to be dangerous. The issue of slag was raised by Josee Roque Rodrigues and Cruz J Colaco, who demanded an explanation from the sarpanch and action taken by the panchayat.
Sarpanch Reuben Costa replied that the panchayat body was fully backing the villagers in regard to the issue and that he has been corresponding in the matter. The panchayat is said to have also asked for an independent report from the authority and the sarpanch informed that the same would be available on August 1. The Sarpanch said that problems faced by locals after construction of bye-pass are being looked after and of panchayat having objected to circular by authorities to install no entry board on roads along the bye-pass which he said would inconvenience locals.
Rodrigues and Colaco claimed that the construction of bye-pass caused irreparable loss to those cultivating fields on both the sides of the road. Question also was raised why the authorities had failed to follow the laid down procedure in respect of using slag for the road. Rodrigues threatened that if authorities fail to clarify the queries raised by villagers that the villagers shall be forced to protest/agitate. Zarina Cunha alleged that the government sabotaged by asking laboratories were villagers had send samples of slag sabotaging by not to test the same and give report on the sample.
irreparable loss
Construction of bye-pass in Nuvem caused irreparable loss to those cultivating fields on both the sides of the road, villagers said and. Questioned as to why the authorities had failed to follow the laid down procedure in respect of using slag for constructing road
