Discharge from scrapyard angers Fatorda farmers

the goan I networkrMARGAO rrAgriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai, who represents Fatorda constituency, informed that he has directed the Goa State Pollution Control Board to collect samples of the water to ascertain the nature of the substance before taking further action. rThe agitated farmers demanded an immediate halt to the illegal discharge of oil and other unknown substances in the fields, and called for prosecution of the scrapyard owners. rCamilo Baretto along with some of the farmers told the media that the illegal discharge of the chemicals and oil would render the fields uncultivable and demanded action against those involved in the activity. r“The authorities have been turning a blind eye to the activities of the scrapyards. Around 2013, there was a cylinder blast, in which a worker was killed. More recently, another scrapyard had caught fire, posing danger to the residential locality,” Camilo said while demanding the immediate closure and shifting of the scrapyards from Chandrawado. rHe recalled that residents of Fatorda had once even called for a shutdown to protest against the presence of scrapyards in and around Chandrawaddo, demanding that the authorities, including the government take cognizance of the sentiments of the people in close proximity of these scrapyards. rMeanwhile, the Fatorda legislator said that sample testing by the Pollution board would reveal the nature of the particles in the water. r“As the Agriculture Minister, we will plan the next course of action based on report from the Pollution board,” Sardesai said.