Team Herald
BICHOLIM: The protesting farmers of Pilgao and Sarmanas stood firm as their road blockade to stop trucks carrying iron ore entered the third day on Friday.
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The farmers have argued that trucks are polluting the environment and destroying their fields, and have asked for compensation from Vedanta, the company carrying out the mining operations.
Sudhakar Vaigankar, farmer leader from Sarmanas, said, “We used to cultivate our fields twice a year and earn up to Rs 5 lakh. The erstwhile company often paid compensation for crop loss due to mining. Some villagers did not demand compensation as they were provided jobs by the then company.” However, these workers have now been retrenched, after the company changed hands, farmers claimed.
Pundalik Parab Gaonkar, a farmer from Pilgao, said, “Last year too we had erected two huts and fenced our fields. But following talks with the Bicholim Deputy Collector we had allowed ore transportation. But for the last six months, the company is not listening to our problems and is only interested in transporting the ore through our fields. We will not allow it to happen.”
“We want our fields back, or the company should give us adequate compensation. We discussed our demands with the Deputy Collector and company representatives. If they don’t agree we will continue our battle and not allow them to transport ore,” said Anil Salelkar, a villager from Pilgao.
