Residents of Cuncolim assembled near the well dug up outside the Cuncolim IDC after it was ordered for demolition by the Cuncolim Municipal Council.
Photo Credits: The Goan
MARGAO
Residents of Cuncolim are celebrating a victory after the Municipal Tribunal upheld the Cuncolim Municipal Council's order to demolish barricades around an illegal well dug by a fish processing industry.
They dedicated the win to the people who fought against "illegalities and pollution" in the industrial estate and vowed to continue their fight until a "logical conclusion" is reached.
Complainants Adv Patrick Monteiro, Aviraj Desai, Mariano Soares and others assembled at the site where the demolition order was executed in the last two days. They complimented the people of Cuncolim for their uncompromising stand against the illegalities inside and outside the Cuncolim IDC and acknowledged the support extended by Cuncolim MLA and Opposition leader Yuri Alemao to the cause.
Adv Monterio recalled that when he and Aviraj Desai had taken up the issue against the illegal well, they were charged by Quality Exports for extortion. “We remained firm in our resolve against the illegal well and barricading and our campaign has finally tasted success,” he said.
Desai said the people of Cuncolim will take the ongoing movement against pollution to "a logical conclusion".
“We request the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to initiate action against the polluting units before the people take to the streets for justice,” Adv Monteiro added.
Since the barricades around the well have been razed down, the residents have expressed the hope that the Cuncolim Municipal Council will initiate measures to ensure the area is secured to avert any mishap.
Meanwhile, a representative of Quality Exports has written to the Deputy Collector, Margao and the Cuncolim Municipal Council that the unit should not be held responsible if any unfortunate incident occurs at the well in the absence of barricades.
In fact, D Coutinho has pointed out that the responsibility for ensuring public safety, including the prevention of accidents related to the well, lies solely with the Cuncolim Municipal Council.
