VASCO
Chicalim Ward Panch Neelam Naik on Friday evening filed a complaint at the Vasco police station demanding a thorough investigation into oil companies in the vicinity, after water from wells in Matvem-Dabolim were found contaminated with fuel traces.
Speaking to reporters, Naik also appealed to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to intervene in the matter because people in the area were living in fear and panic for the last few days.
"I am not aware of how many oil companies are present in the vicinity but there has to be a thorough investigation in this incident. I had alerted all authorities when the wells were contaminated with traces of fuel, and though all authorities have inspected the site, we have not got any reports from them. I just visited the well and there is fuel coming out from the well water at full pressure and this has led to further fear and panic," said Naik.
Naik said people in the area of the contaminated well have not even lit their cooking gas in fear of a possible disaster. "There is an age-old nullah in the village and the water contaminated with fuel traces is flowing through it and further flowing into Zuari River.”
Naik said as many as 25 tanker loads of water from the wells had been removed to date, but the fuel traces were still found in the water
"We have counted 25 tankers that have collected contaminated water since the last few days but we do not know nor do we have evidence where it is taken and it is for the police to find out whether it is taken to the factory or dumped elsewhere.”
“Our wells get filled with water along with traces of fuel within half an hour of being emptied. The companies have now put a pipe for suction at the main point which gets in contaminated water in the well," said Naik.
The panch felt the oil company officials have not been able to ascertain the place from where there could be a leakage. “The people who depend on well water are now getting water from outside and it will be a big disaster if the issue is taken lightly," said Naik.
