Betul fire: Locals stage protest outside Collector’s office over delay in action

Naqueri-Betul villagers staged a silent protest outside the office of South Goa district Collector, demanding inquiry into the March 20 fire incident in the propellant storage unity on the Naqueri plateau.

MARGAO
Villagers of Naqueri-Betul on Friday staged a silent protest outside the office of South Goa Collector against what they termed as the delay by the authorities to initiate action against Hughes Precision Manufacturing Ltd post-fire and explosion at the magazine storing propellant on the Naqueri plateau.

Armed with placards and banners, the residents demanded to know the cause behind the fire and explosion in the magazine on the night of March 20. Pointing out that a fortnight has passed since the magazine was engulfed by fire and explosion, the residents further wondered what has stopped the authorities in the last fortnight from cancelling the company’s licence to store the propellant.

They further demanded the shifting of the 11 tonnes hazardous propellant stored in the magazine No. 2 in the interest of the safety and security of the local populace.

Led by Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa, Naqueri-Betul sarpanch Pritam Deulkar, deputy sarpanch Damas Silva, panchayat members, the protesters demanded to know from the district Collector why the licence issued to the company for the storage of propellant has not been cancelled till date.

The residents raised apprehensions that the effluents released by the combustion of the gunpowder/ propellant stored in the magazine poses a threat to the water bodies, including springs and rivulets with monsoons round the corner. They demanded to know the steps initiated by the authorities to mitigate the pollution of the water bodies before the onset of monsoons.

While a strong police force was deployed at the Collectorate as a precautionary measure, South Goa District Collector, Egna Cleetus later invited the Quepem MLA, the panchayat members and the residents for discussion inside the building. Additional Collector, Srinet Kothawale and other senior officials also attended the meeting.

The Quepem MLA explained to the Collector that though the Naqueri-Betul panchayat had filed a written complaint with her office for the cancellation of licence issued to the company, no action has been forthcoming from the authorities till date.

Saying the delay in initiating action has only raised suspicions whether any attempts are being made to hush up the matter, Altone demanded to know from the Collector the status of the inquiry initiated by her office. “We are not indulging in politics over the issue, but the people are seeking answers to a host of question, whether the company had obtained the licences from the local panchayat, whether the company had any permission for the storage of propellant in the magazine No. 2,”” he asked.

Activist Charles D’Silva sought to know whether the conditions imposed by the district Collector were all complied by the company, and if no, the action initiated by the office till date.

Deputy Sarpanch Damas D’Silva drew attention of the Collector to the effluents released by the combustion of the propellant on March 20 night, demanding to know whether any steps have been taken to mitigate pollution of the springs, streams and water bodies in the vicinity.

Collector assures meet with line depts before concluding probe

MARGAO: South Goa district Collector, Egna Cleetus has assured the beleaguered villagers of Naqueri-Betul that she would convene a meeting with the officials of the line departments before concluding the ongoing probe into the March 20 Naqueri fire and explosion in the magazine storing propellant.

Explaining to the villagers that her office has initiated an inquiry into the incident, the Collector said the licence of the company has already been suspended by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO). “I am awaiting reports from the concerned line departments. I will call for a meeting of officials heading the line departments on Monday before concluding the probe,” said the Collector.

She made the statement after Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa demanded cancellation of the licences issued to the company within seven days, threatening to intensify the agitation in the matter. “We are convinced that the inquiry has not been taken to its logical conclusion. The company had put the lives of the Collector, SP, South, besides the sarpanch and local residents in danger as the representatives had failed to disclose that the second magazine was storing 11 tonnes of propellant after the magazine No. 1 was engulfed by fire,” Altone added.