VASCO
Amid reports of wells being contaminated with fuel in Matvem-Dabolim, various authorities visited the site on Tuesday to carry out investigations, even as panch member claimed there was a definite leakage of a petroleum pipeline that had caused the contamination of ground water in the area.
While the Fire Department along with the panch members and officials of the Dy Collector office under Disaster Management took a joint inspection of the well and later sealed it, other authorities like the Water Resources Department, Health, Goa State Pollution Control Board and Fire Department went to the site on Tuesday morning for an inspection and took samples of water from the well.
While the well owner Joaquim Fernandes and his family live in fear, authorities are yet to ascertain the exact cause of contamination and take steps to repair the man-made damage to ground water in the area.
Dabolim Ward Panch Neelam Naik has, however, claimed that ground water has been contaminated which can affect the entire area, which has 600 people, 200 houses and 22 wells.
Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho, who inspected the site on Tuesday, said that the contamination in the well was a clear-cut case of leakage of pipelines or storage tanks.
Godinho speaking to reporters after a joint inspection said that a FIR could also be registered to probe any foul play in the incident
“Years ago, a similar incident had happened in Sancoale and Bogmalo and this is the third such incident. We have to take corrective measures to ensure that people will get water again. I have also directed the WRD to ensure this is done," said Godinho.
"There have also been cases of pilferage in the past where people had pilfered fuel from the main pipelines coming from the ship in the port to the storage tanks. The authorities must investigate this angle as well and FIR will be in the purview of the WRD department and it is their responsibility to register FIR if they find it necessary. The local body can take the steps to file an FIR so that a thorough investigation is done. We need to enquire if there is any mischief in this incident," Godinho added.
