PANJIM: Claiming that the State authorities have not granted any permission to Maharashtra for transporting coal through Goan waters, villagers from Keri, Paliem and Tiracol have sought Goa government’s intervention to stop the illegal ferrying of coal in barges, through the Tiracol River, since they fear pollution and threat to their livelihood.
Villagers under the banner of ‘Keri-Tiracol-Paliem Gram Bachao Committee’ have given a week’s time to the government to act, failing which they have threatened to approach the Court.
Over 500 fishing families from these villages fear loss of livelihood as movement of barges will affect fish breeding. The widening and deepening of the river mouth may prove disastrous for villages located along the Tiracol River.
Addressing media persons on Wednesday, convenor Sachin Parab said that representations have been made to Chief Minister and local MLA Laxmikant Parsekar, Environment Minister Alina Saldanha and concerned departments to intervene in the matter and take necessary action against the illegality.
“It’s been nearly four to five days since the representations have been made, but till date there is no response,” Parab said pointing that during a meeting with Saldanha on Tuesday, they were informed that the State has not granted any permission for movement of barges through the Tiracol river.
Parish Priest from the village, Fr Juvino Pereira, who attended the meeting along with committee members, said that the chief secretary has assured that a police complaint would be filed against Maharashtra government for the illegality. “Over hundreds of families are dependent on this river for survival since their occupation is fishing,” he said.
The villagers feel that the transportation, loading and unloading of coal might lead to pollution and health hazards for people and children of the area since the government primary school, Kiranpani, is situated just 500m away from the jetty where the coal is unloaded.
Fr Pereira said that at the mouth of the river, there are natural barriers including huge rocks beneath the surface of the water and there is a danger of the barges capsizing and polluting the river. He said that the coal is transported, and unloaded under police protection.
