VASCO
Days after a well was found to have been contaminated with fuel in Matvem-Dabolim and the contamination later spreading to nearby wells and water bodies, tension prevailed in the area on Tuesday after residents and the local panch confronted Zuari Indian Oil Tanking (ZIOTL) officials over contamination of ground water.
Residents claimed that the contamination had also spread to the streams and paddy fields in the area.
The agitated residents along with panch member Neelam Naik questioned the action taken by the ZIOTL and they also sought a written assurance on the safety of residents in the area.
Later speaking to reporters, Neelam Naik said the company must offer residents a written assurance that there will be no untoward incident and that safety measures and emergency vehicles have to be stationed 24x7 in the area in case of any incident.
"It is the 11th day that water from the well is being pumped out and carried away and while the company is saying all is under control, the contamination has spread from the well to the streams and in the water bodies of private lands and even paddy fields,” said Naik.
“Our ground water and cultivable land is destroyed and the company now got a team from Hyderabad who is telling everyone not to worry and that the things are under control.”
“We have been hearing this for a long time and we have now asked the company to give us a written assurance to clear the panic and fear in the minds of the people who cook in mud stoves and drink water from the wells.”
“The company must give us a written assurance that they will be responsible for any untoward incident in the village and they must also have an ambulance and fire brigade stationed here at all times," said Naik.
Meanwhile, the ZIOTL CEO Shriprasad Nayak said all safety measures have been taken and that the company has begun providing water through tankers to affected residents in the area.
"There are people who have gathered here and complained to us that the contamination has spread. We have been clearing the contaminated water from the well and we have also begun controlling contamination after people said there was fuel traces in the stream as well.”
“We are going to all places shown to us by the people and deploying teams at the location to control any contamination. We have taken all the steps to ensure that there is no vapour formation to avoid any untoward incident and our entire team is at the site.”
“We have also begun supplying water to people in the area through water tankers and we will also have an ambulance and doctors at site here for the people," said Nayak.
Mormugao Mamlatdar Pravinjaay Pandit said results were awaited of the water samples which were collected.
“Action will be taken if the company is found of contaminating the water bodies,” said Pandit.
A fire tender was also stationed at the site.
In the evening, a medical team was dispatched to the ward to check if people displayed any symptoms linked to the contamination.
