Saturday 09 Nov 2024

Locals protest at Cuncolim IDC, demand probe into water found in their fields

Suspect that effluents from industrial estate have found their way into canal

THE GOAN NETWORK | OCTOBER 30, 2024, 11:57 PM IST
Locals protest at Cuncolim IDC, demand  probe into water found in their fields

Local protest at the entrance to the Cuncolim IDC.

MARGAO

Cuncolim Industrial estate is back in the news once again for all the wrong reasons. If the Industrial estate had hit the headlines after the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) sealed and de-sealed a fish  meal and fish processing units earlier this month, local residents and farmers are now up in arms over what they term as contaminated water from an adjoining canal flowing into their fields.

In fact, local residents suspect that effluents from the industrial estate have found their way into the canal, contaminating the water that ultimately finds its way into the fields and the rivulet at Simplea-Veroda.

The residents pointed out that the water flowing in the canal emits a foul odour before turning black in the adjoining fields.

Wednesday saw a group of affected  residents protesting at the entrance to the Cuncolim industrial estate demanding a detailed probe into the quality of the water flowing in the irrigation canal that later finds its way into the fields and rivulet.

A local youth Alison Fernandes demanded that the authorities including the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) should find out how water is flowing into the irrigation canal when the government is yet to release the canal water for irrigation. “The fields are located a kilometre away from the irrigation canal. We would like to know how the canal water is entering the fields, whether through damaged chambers or a damaged pipeline. Fish in the fields has disappeared. Cattle and animals face the risk of consuming contaminated water”, he said.

Vincy Vaz also echoed similar sentiments. She said local farmers have stopped entering the fields due to fear of skin infections. “We cannot enter the fields  because of fear of skin infections. The barren fields have now become mosquito breeding sites. The government and local MLA should inspect the canal water and the fields and initiate action”, she said.

Activist Aviraj Desai, who has been fighting pollution at the Cuncolim Industrial estate along with citizens, only hoped the government authorities, including the GSPCB will take cognizance of the reports in the media and initiate action. “We demanded that the authorities immediate check the water quality flowing in the canal as well as the black colour water accumulated in the adjoining fields. The government should display a sense of seriousness and give relief to the local residents battling pollution”, he said.

He added: “Government authorities including the Goa IDC should maintain vigil at the Industrial estate. Local residents cannot keep a track of the pollution 24x7”.

Besides inspections of the canal water and the adjoining fields, Desai demanded that the government should hold periodic health camps for the benefit of the people staying in close vicinity of the Industrial estate.

A local resident Vishwanath Gaonkar said the fields have been devastated by the industrial effluents. “When the water flows, it emits foul odour. Just think of the future if the situation continues. The fields cannot be cultivated. Even animals cannot graze in the fields”, he added.

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