SANGUEM:
Sudesh Naik from Mirabag and Dinkar Pateli alias Ganesh, who were arrested by the Curchorem Police for dumping chemical and industrial waste in an abandoned laterite stone quarry at Chanimol-Kalay, Sanguem, and subsequently setting the waste on fire, were released on bail today by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Quepem.
Sources informed that, as per the ongoing investigation by the Curchorem Police, the accused were allegedly collecting waste from various scrapyards and the Verna Industrial Estate, and later transporting it to Chanimol-Kalay.
The contractor was reportedly paid ₹10,000 per trip, while the quarry owner received around ₹4,000 per trip.
The waste was primarily being transported from Margao, Navelim, Colva, and other neighbouring villages.
The haphazard dumping of industrial and chemical waste had reportedly been ongoing for the past year. Although villagers had raised the issue with panchayat officials, the panchayat members denied having any knowledge of the matter, citing the absence of a formal written complaint from the villagers.
After being exposed to toxic fumes for over four days, the villagers have now urged the authorities to remove the waste from the area before the onset of the monsoon, fearing that the leachate could contaminate their agricultural fields and nearby rivulets.
