MARGAO
Days after the South Goa district Magistrate Asvin Chandru prohibited swimming in abandoned quarries until further orders in South Soba District, questions are raised whether any authority has been entrusted with the task of restricting the entry of people to these zones.
For, if sources are to be believed, dozens, if not hundreds of abandoned quarries are located across South Goa, especially in the stone quarrying sites such as Sarzora-Sao Jose de Areal-Paroda belt in Salcete, besides the Betul-Cananguinim-Balli belt known for abandoned quarries.
In fact, drowning deaths had taken place at the Sarzora belt and Betul in the recent past after youngsters ventured out into the quarries for swimming.
No doubt, the district Collector’s order has directed the men-in-uniform and the Taluka mamlatdars to maintain vigil in their respective jurisdiction to enforce the order. Sources in the police department, however, pointed out that it is next to impossible to maintain vigil at the stone quarries given the sheer number of quarries located in the police station.
That’s not all. A police official pointed out that taking rounds of the abandoned quarries, frequented by enthusiastic swimmers, is one thing, but prohibiting the entry by camping at the sites is not only out of question, but next to impossible.
To tide over the problem of monitoring the entry of people to the abandoned quarries, it is suggested that the taluka Mamlatdars or agencies such as the PWD or the WRD are roped in at least to put up warning boards, cautioning the people against entering the waters.
A policemen further pointed out that as it is, most of the police stations are facing severe manpower crunch, adding that deploying personnel to maintain vigil at the quarries is out of question.
The district Collector had issued the order under section 144 of the CrPC after taking cognizance of the incidents of drowning reported in the past in waterfalls, abandoned quarries, rivers, lakes and other water bodies in the South Goa District and as such swimming in these water poses risk to the life of people.
