The Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network (Goacan) has called for an action plan to prevent drowning cases in used and unused stone quarries in Goa so that the lives of people, particularly children can be saved.
In its letter to the Director of Mines and Geology (DMG) Vivek H P, Goacan has pointed out the urgent need to prepare a comprehensive action plan for the State of Goa with the help of all allied departments, to ensure that all quarries in future in both the districts (North and South) have protective fencing and appropriate public notices of caution with emergency helpline numbers.
A case in point is the recent tragic incident at Nanoda, Latambarcem in Bicholim wherein a 10-year-old boy from Calangute got drowned in a laterite stone quarry.
It is reported that the child was part of a group of families undertaking a nature trek in that village. The body was retrieved by the Bicholim Fire Station staff from the quarry filled with rain water and which did not have any protective fencing.
Goa has witnessed innumerable drowning incidents in such stone quarries at Bicholim, Pernem, Sattari, Quepem, Sanguem, Canacona and Dharbandora. Most of these quarries have been left unattended in the monsoons and do not have any fencing. When filled with rain water they become death traps for the local people.
