TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Tension flared up at Usgao after residents confronted officials of a company for allegedly discharging huge quantities of furnace oil into a rainwater drain, which is linked to the Khandepar river, the main source of water to the PWD’s water treatment plant that supplies water to the talukas of Tiswadi and Ponda.
A police complaint has been filed against the company management in this regard.
According to villagers, the company had allegedly released thousands of litres of furnace oil into the rainwater drain late Thursday night.
The rainwater drain passes though Par-Usgao and connects to the river Khandepar. The ward Par is situated opposite the company and has about 250 residences.
Some residents complained of uneasiness late Thursday night due to the odour of the furnace oil that spread in the area. Residents also feared that the furnace oil could affect aquatic life in the river.
Incidentally, Khandepar river is the main source of water to the PWD’s water treatment plant at Opa-Khandepar, which supplies water to the talukas of Tiswadi and Ponda.
Angered over the incident, residents along with local leader, OBC Corporation Chairman Satyavijay Naik marched to the company premises on Friday morning, demanding an explanation for the discharge of furnace oil.
“This is totally unacceptable. The government must take stern action against this industrial unit,” insisted Naik.
“The company officials admitted that about 1,000 litres of furnace oil was accidentally released, but I think it is more than that,” he added.
A team from the Goa State Pollution Control Board later visited the site and took samples from the rainwater drain.
Panch members of the Usgao-Ganjem Panchayat were also present at the site. Later, Ward Panch William Mascarenhas filed a police complaint against the company management.
