TEAM HERALD
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
PONDA: Concerted opposition by residents of Keri-Ponda has effectively stopped stone quarrying in the village for the last two months.
Alleging various illegalities, villagers had agitated demanding stoppage of a quarry and crusher both of which had done irreparable damage to the environment.
According to sources, the operation at the controversial site was stopped. The villagers now want the quarry and the crusher to be shut in totality.
“The villagers without any vested interest voluntarily took part in the agitation and we are hopeful that the controversial stone quarry and crusher will be totally shut down,” said former Priol MLA Adv Vishwas Satarkar while talking to media persons at Amadi-Keri on Wednesday.
“So far, we have received good support from the government and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has assured to look into the matter,” added Satarkar.
It may be recalled that the villagers were on a ‘dharna’ from February 26 in protest against the Ponda Deputy Collector’s order allowing the quarry operator to transport mined stones from the site. Villagers were up in arms against the transportation.
“The Deputy Collector Ponda had passed an order allowing the quarry operator to transport mined stones within 10 days. Since then the villagers were on a ‘dharna’ and had decided not to allow the transportation,” said United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA) Convenor Govind Gaude.
“I request truck owners across the State not to lift mined stones from the quarry at Amadi or else our agitation will continue,” added Gaude.
