VALPOI: Pissurlem villagers have served a five-day ultimatum on the mining companies to comply with the High Court directives.
The locals have strongly objected to the transportation of mining ore from dumps without complying with the High Court directives. They demanded that ore be removed from their fields admeasuring 128 acres and that the mining companies release the stored water in the dumps to the farmers and compensate them for the losses.
The Pissurlem Village Farmers’ Association has submitted a memorandum to the Valpoi Deputy Collector and Valpoi Mamlatdar complaining that the mining companies and Goa government have failed to solve Pissurlem farmers’ problems till date. There are around 160 farmers in village.
“We filed a petition in High Court which directed the Government to solve the farmers’ issues first. All government departments have failed to solve our issues. Agriculture land admeasuring 180 acres has been destroyed by the mining companies,” the association claimed.
“The High Court has ordered the removal of mud from the agriculture fields. The companies have not removed the same and have failed to supply water to the farmers and have not constructed a compound hall. The mines companies have not fulfilled our demands,” the association said.
“Without fulfilling our demands the mining dump transportation is going on. We have submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Collector and the Mamlatdar on this issue. If they fail to act on our demands then we will protest in front of Valpoi Deputy Collector’s office”, warned Hanumant Parab, a local.
“Our cashew plantation and fencing have been destroyed by the company by starting ore transportation through our property. We have complained to the Valpoi Deputy Collector, Mamlatdar and the Valpoi Police but they have not taken any action. We will stop the ore transportation, if the concerned officers fail to take any action,” warned Rachana Parab, a resident.
