Panchayat has not issued permission; Noida firm under lens for activity
FIELDS UNDER THREAT: Mud dumped in agricultural fields at Saligao on Sunday, triggering protests from villagers against the unauthorised activity.
MAPUSA
Tension flared in Saligao on Sunday after villagers confronted a contractor allegedly engaged in illegal and unauthorised dumping of mud in agricultural fields, forcing the work to a halt and compelling the contractor to remove the dumped material.
According to locals, around seven to eight truckloads of mud had already been offloaded in the cultivated area over the past few days, damaging nearby fields. Despite continuous rain, nearly 40 residents gathered at the site and demanded that the contractor immediately clear the mud and restore the land to its original condition.
“You have no authority to dump mud in this field,” an agitated villager was heard telling the contractor during the confrontation.
Residents alleged that the contractor had neither obtained permission from the local panchayat nor from the landowner, who was present at the scene.
“Of late, Saligao is becoming infamous for various reasons. Now, they have started land filling in these fields. Alert citizens immediately gathered and stopped two trucks from dumping,” said local resident Pradeep Padgaonkar.
Padgaonkar said the contractor claimed the land was being used to store electricity cables, and that the mud had to be filled beneath the stored material.
“The Sarpanch and the panchayat member of the ward have no idea who is carrying out this work,” he added, while standing alongside Sarpanch Lucas Remedios and a panchayat member.
When questioned, the contractor reportedly stated that a Noida-based company had requested the dumping to facilitate cable storage.
Sarpanch Remedios confirmed that the panchayat had already intervened.
“As soon as the issue was brought to our attention, we issued a notice to the contractor. We stopped the activity yesterday and asked the contractor to remove the mud. But today, they started dumping again,” he said.
Following pressure from the villagers, the contractor finally agreed to clear the field and remove the illegally dumped mud.
