CURCHOREM
The deputy collector bluntly told the protesters that he could regulate mining traffic, but had no power and authority to stop mining transport.According to reports, about 200 locals from Quepem-Tilamol area and Curchorem gathered at Tilamol junction on Monday morning to stop mining transport from Curchorem, Tilamol and Quepem main road.As there was no ore transportation along the Tilamol junction on Monday, the gathering turned into a public meeting and agitators strongly demanded a separate bypass road for mining transportation. They also demanded that mining transportation be stopped until the bypass road is made operational.Quepem MLA Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar supported the agitators and pointed out the genuine need of bypass road, so that fatal accidents and traffic problems could be avoided. “The BJP government had assured in 2012 that it will complete the Quepem bypass road within six months and now it is almost five years, but the project is incomplete. The government should at least start and complete the bypass road within next six months before the assembly elections,” he said.Admitting that the issue was sensitive, Kavlekar said there should be no politics in such matters and the government should take up the work for people s safety.Many locals gave their opinions supporting the need for a bypass and to stop ore transportation from Quepem, Tilamol and Curchorem main road.After the meeting, the agitators met the Quepem Deputy Collector Shankar Gaonkar and put forward their demands to stop mining transportation. The locals later met Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral at his office and put forth their same demands.Cabral assured the locals that he would ensure that traffic guidelines are implemented for mining transportation and followed strictly. At the same time, he cleared his stand that he has no powers to stop mining transportation in the area.
