officials told to prevent floods in Bicholim
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
MAYEM, JULY 3
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has directed taluka authorities to take precautionary measures to prevent floods in Bicholim taluka.
Kamat telephonically contacted Bicholim Deputy Collector H Kenaudekar to take stock of the situation in the taluka, after mining sludge flowed into three villages due to heavy rains on Wednesday night.
The chief minister also asked Kenaudekar to instruct mining authorities to take measures during the monsoons to protect the villages from danger.
It may be recalled that a number of people were evacuated to safer areas as sludge entered into 60 houses and a temple in Poira, Advalpal and Valshi in Bicholim taluka on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, the deputy collector and mamlatdar convened a joint meeting within mining company officials on Friday to discuss safety measures to be initiated by mining companies. Officials of ILPL, Sesa Goa and Salgaocar companies were present at the meeting.
Deputy Collector Kenaudekar and Mamlatdar Bhat directed the officials of the companies to take precautionary measures during rainy season and to stop sludge from entering houses and public places.
Meanwhile, the situation in Poira, Advalpal and Valshi in Bicholim taluka returned to normal, as residents and mining workers cleared the sludge from the houses of the affected residents. The disaster management force kept a close watch on the situation.
Fire brigade personnel informed that many incidents of trees uprooting and damages to houses had occurred on Friday, but the damage has been minimal.
