Fencing of abandoned quarries drags on as proposal awaits govt approval
PANAJI
Nine months after announcing to fence and barricade around 35 abandoned stone quarries or mining pits at a whopping cost of over Rs 2.50 crore, the government seems to be dragging its feet over action, as the proposal continues to remain pending for consideration. Since 2020, as many as nine individually in the age group of 16 to 23 years, have drowned in these pits.
The issue pertaining to fencing of abandoned laterite quarries had come up for discussion during the Managing Committee as well as Governing Council meeting of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF), wherein it was informed that the proposal, with regards to South Goa is pending with the government for consideration while in case of North, a detailed proposal is awaited from the Disaster Management Cell.
“There were clear directions from the High Court that all the abandoned quarries need to be fenced on priority to prevent death due to drowning. Accordingly, the proposal was moved to the government, to get funds, of over Rs 2.50 crore through DMF. However, the proposal is pending with the government and hence, DMF could not grant any sanction so far,” sources informed.
July 2022, the High Court of Bombay at Goa had pulled up authorities, for ignoring large-scale quarrying in Mollem, Dharbandora, after the petitioner alleged that quarries are left open with no proper precautionary measures.
Earlier this week, the Court directed State authorities to inform it of the steps already taken and to be taken to restore such sites and to explain the methodology for addressing unauthorised quarrying.
In July, last year, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had informed the Goa Legislative Assembly that the government will fence and barricade around 35 abandoned stone quarries/ mining pits at a cost of Rs 2.75 crore. He had said that Rs 75 lakh has been sanctioned by the government, and Rs 2 crore from the District Mineral Fund will be used for the purpose.
The government had identified six highly dangerous quarries – two each from Sattari, Bicholim, and Pernem Taluka.
Accordingly, in August, 2024, the South District Collector had invited tenders to provide barbed wire fencing for such quarries. The first phase was estimated to cost nearly Rs 60 lakh and was expected to be completed in 120 days.
