MARGAO
Seeking freedom from carbon dust pollution in the village, residents of Sao Jose de Areal on Tuesday participated in a silent peaceful prayer and introspection at the village panchayat coinciding with Independence Day and vowed to fight till the end and not allow their children to suffer from the alleged pollution.
The participants warned that they will take whatever steps possible under the Constitution for the people of Sao Jose de Areal if the factory management does not take steps to make the village
Seeking freedom from carbon dust pollution in the village, residents of Sao Jose de Areal on Tuesday participated in a silent peaceful prayer and introspection at the village panchayat coinciding with Independence Day and vowed to fight till the end and not allow their children to suffer from the alleged pollution.
The participants warned that they will take whatever steps possible under the Constitution for the people of Sao Jose de Areal if the factory management does not take steps to make the village
free from the dust pollution. After participating in the flag hoisting ceremony, around 600 people from Areal as well as from the villages of Chandor, Curtorim, Maina, Davorlim-Dicarpale of different faiths joined the silent peaceful prayer and introspection with placards.
Areal Parish Priest Fr Richard Pinheiro extended his support to the parishioners and he along with Anuradha Padwal and Abdul Karim conducted a prayer service seeking God's blessing to save the village from dust pollution.
Villagers and vice-president of Social Justice Forum, Areal Seby Fernandes, spoke about the sufferings of the people, children and how the vegetation is getting affected by the carbon dust and lamented that no positive action has been forthcoming from the factory management or chairman despite meetings.
Fr Savio Fernandes, President of National Confederation of Human Rights Organization, appreciated the people of Areal for showing their unity as one family irrespective of caste and religion and further said that "we should not stay quiet till we get freedom from the carbon dust pollution."
Social Activist from Chandor Darwin along with his villagers informed that the village of Chandor also suffers badly due to this carbon dust pollution and extended his solidarity to the peaceful agitation.
Another Areal villager Nelson Mascarenhas and member of the Social Justice Forum said that the Goa Carbon factory should be located 35km away from the village. He said the factory is located right amidst human habitation, while calling upon the factory management and authorities to take immediate measures to control pollution.
President of Rainbow Warriors Rony Dias lamented that the government is not doing its duty well and that the GSPCB is not controlling pollution, but working to create
the pollution.
Areal Parish Priest Fr Richard Pinheiro extended his support to the parishioners and he along with Anuradha Padwal and Abdul Karim conducted a prayer service seeking God's blessing to save the village from dust pollution.
Villagers and vice-president of Social Justice Forum, Areal Seby Fernandes, spoke about the sufferings of the people, children and how the vegetation is getting affected by the carbon dust and lamented that no positive action has been forthcoming from the factory management or chairman despite meetings.
Fr Savio Fernandes, President of National Confederation of Human Rights Organization, appreciated the people of Areal for showing their unity as one family irrespective of caste and religion and further said that "we should not stay quiet till we get freedom from the carbon dust pollution."
Social Activist from Chandor Darwin along with his villagers informed that the village of Chandor also suffers badly due to this carbon dust pollution and extended his solidarity to the peaceful agitation.
Another Areal villager Nelson Mascarenhas and member of the Social Justice Forum said that the Goa Carbon factory should be located 35km away from the village. He said the factory is located right amidst human habitation, while calling upon the factory management and authorities to take immediate measures to control pollution.
President of Rainbow Warriors Rony Dias lamented that the government is not doing its duty well and that the GSPCB is not controlling pollution, but working to create
the pollution.
