Team Herald
PERNEM: Even after four school students drowned in a stone quarry at Tuem, the pits are still left open in the village posing real danger.
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The quarries are neither filled up nor fenced by either the quarry operators nor the government.
Angry that no action has been taken to prevent similar tragedies, Tuem villagers have demand immediate action.
“Even if the pits are not filled up, they can at least be fenced especially those that are close to schools and residential areas,” said a villager.
The villagers say that authorities should direct the quarry owners to fill up the pits.
Meanwhile, sources at the mamlatdar office claimed that after conducting a survey, the PWD was directed to fence all the quarries. However, the work has not commenced due to lack of funds.
There are several quarries in Pernem taluka posing danger to lives of people and animals.
As per the government records, quarries are located in Tuem, Korgao, Casarwadnem, Ozorim, Torxem, Mandrem and Parcem village. However, there are illegal quarries in Palyem, Patradevi, Ugvem, Warkhand, Agarwada, Keri, Mopa and Dhargal.
As per records, 37 persons have carried out quarrying in parts of Pernem taluka for the last many years. However, again, the actual number of people involved in quarrying is more than 200.
Of 37 quarry operators, 30 have done so on private land and seven have carried out activity on government land. Of seven government properties, six are in Tuem and one is in Parcem. However, sources claim that the actual quarries are four times the official number.
Prior to the deaths of four students, three others had lost their lives after falling into the quarries.
