PERNEM: A delegation of local representatives and farmers of four villages— Uguem, Casarvarnem, Tulaskarwadi, Warkhand and Chandel— on Friday met Pernem Deputy Collector Ravishekhar Nipanikar and submitted a memorandum demanding action plan to protect their villages within eight days.
In the memorandum, the delegation stated that work of International Mopa Airport is in full swing on the Mopa Plateau. The delegation stated that the disaster has taken place at Uguem, Casarvarnem, Chandel, Tulaskarwadi, Warkhand and surrounding areas after the contractor released the flow of water into the villages resulting the mud, trees, and big rubble stones rolling down in the villages, causing severe destruction to the plantation, agricultural fields and natural water sources.
Panch Chandel Gawas said, “Uguem, Casarvarnem, Tulaskarwadi, Warkhand and Chandel are badly affected due to the negligence and unplanned work of the airport building authority, which is very serious and offensive act on the part of the company.
Further, the delegation regreted that neither the higher authority nor the government representative took take stock of the incident.
“Even after so many days, the fields are filled with mud. The topography of land has changed, so also cashew plantation has been destroyed. The natural water resources are filled with soil,” they claimed.
The delegation also highlighted that the company did not take the local authority and panchayat body into confidence regarding the pre-monsoon works.
They requested the Pernem Deputy Collector to take appropriate measures to protect the villages from destruction of environment and property within a period of eight days and further intimate the affected panchayat about the steps taken, failing which the local representatives would take appropriate steps in accordance with the law.
