Locals seek relocation of the dumped waste
Former MP South Vinay Tendulkar alongwith others during his visit to Chanimol ward of Kalay village.
SANGUEM
Following thorough investigation based on available leads, the Curchorem Police apprehended Sudesh Naik, a resident of Mirabag Curchorem, and Dinkar Pateli alias Ganesh, a contractor from Navelim, late evening on Tuesday in connection with the illegal dumping and subsequent setting ablaze of industrial and chemical waste at an abandoned laterite stone quarry situated in the Chanimol ward of Kalay Village Panchayat in Sanguem.
The incident unfolded on last Saturday morning when residents of the Chanimol ward in Kalay village were abruptly awakened by a significant fire accompanied by thick smoke originating just a short distance from their homes.
It was soon discovered that the fire had been intentionally started in a pile of chemical and industrial waste that had been dumped in the aforementioned quarry.
This discovery immediately raised concerns among the villagers regarding potential health hazards and air pollution within their community.
The incident was reported to the Deputy Collector of Sanguem, the Curchorem Police, and various other government agencies. The authorities responded swiftly and worked diligently to extinguish the fire. Their efforts culminated late on Tuesday evening, after four days of continuous work by the Fire Officers team under the leadership of Damodar Zambaulikar from Curchorem.
Given the serious concerns voiced by the villagers about potential health risks posed by the toxic fumes, the Deputy Collector of Sanguem, Milind Velip, dispatched a team of medical officers from the Sanguem Primary Health Centre today to conduct health checks on the residents living near the affected area. Officials have indicated that these health checks will continue today.
Despite the fire being extinguished, local residents have expressed some apprehension about the possibility of the fire reigniting, as smoke was observed emanating from the mud used to cover the quarry in several locations. The youth of the village have appealed to the authorities, urging them to ensure that the individuals involved, once apprehended, are directed to relocate the dumped material to a different site. This request stems from the villagers' anticipation of potential adverse effects on their community in the future.
In a related development, former member of parliament Vinay Tendulakar visited the affected village on Tuesday. He assured the local population of his commitment to follow up on the matter and ensure that appropriate action is taken. Furthermore, he pledged to work towards preventing the recurrence of such incidents without adherence to proper safety protocols.
