Moves to restore water-filled pits for fishing, tourism and other activities
PANAJI
Despite growing concern expressed by the government itself over repeated deaths and serious injuries caused by drowning and accidental falls in unprotected abandoned laterite quarries, the State authorities have now decided to shelve their proposal to fence off these hazardous sites.
Instead, the government is exploring a plan to restore and repurpose the water-filled quarries for regulated fishing, tourism and other recreational activities, aiming to transform long-neglected danger zones into productive community assets.
The North Goa District Administration has withdrawn its proposal to fence and barricade around 15 to 20 abandoned laterite stone quarries at an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF). The North Goa District Mineral Foundation (NGDMF), during one of its meetings, was informed about the withdrawal of the proposal, which had earlier been approved by its Governing Council in January 2024.
The decision followed an opinion by the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the DMF that the quarries could be scientifically restored and utilised for fishing, tourism or other recreational purposes instead of being fenced. “Accordingly, the Managing Committee directed that rehabilitation of the abandoned quarries be taken up on a pilot basis and asked the PMU to submit a detailed proposal,” sources said.
The PMU, along with the District Collectorate, has been directed to work out a rehabilitation plan within the earlier approved outlay of Rs 2 crore.
Since 2020, at least ten persons, mostly in the 16 to 23 age group, have drowned in these water-filled pits.
In July 2022, the Bombay High Court pulled up authorities for ignoring large-scale quarrying in Mollem, Dharbandora, after a petitioner alleged that several quarries were left open without adequate safety measures. In May last year, the court directed the State to inform it of the steps taken and proposed to restore such sites and to explain the methodology to address unauthorised quarrying.
In July 2024, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had informed the Goa Legislative Assembly that the government would fence and barricade around 35 abandoned stone quarries and mining pits at an estimated cost of Rs 2.75 crore. Six highly dangerous quarries – two each in Sattari, Bicholim and Pernem talukas – were identified for priority action.
