MARGAO
Leader of opposition Yuri Alemao on Monday said the State government's failure to take preventive steps has resulted in drowning deaths at stone quarries and mining pits.
He demanded that the government must make public the report of the committee constituted by the Department of Mines and also place in the public domain the Action Taken Report by both the District Collectors on the directions given by the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in July 2023.
"It is really painful to see young lives getting lost due to drowning at stone quarries and mining pits in Goa. It is the failure of the BJP government to take preventive steps which has resulted in drowning deaths at stone quarries and mining pits," Yuri said.
Expressing his grief over the drowning deaths in the last few months in Goa at various water bodies including mining pits, stone quarries, canals, waterfalls and beaches, the leader of the opposition blamed the "lethargic approach" of the BJP government in taking effective preventive steps to avoid such cases.
"Almost 35 lives were lost due to drowning in Goa in last few years at mining pits, stone quarries, canals and waterfalls. This includes the death of 4 innocent children at a stone quarry at Tuvem in 2019, the death of a 24-year-old youth at a mining pit in Curpe, Sanguem, the drowning death of a student at Cansaulim, the death of a 21-year-old youth at Revora, Thivim and drowning death of a 19-year-old youth at Nanora. Incidentally, the 17-year-old boy Mohit Kashyap lost his life at Nanora," said Yuri.
He said the Department of Mines & Geology had constituted a committee on June 30, 2023, to monitor and conduct inspections of the mining areas in Goa in view of taking preventive steps.
"After the unfortunate drowning death of a student at an abandoned quarry at Cansaulim, Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) had taken suo moto cognizance and asked both the District Collectors to conduct surveys of all quarries and verify whether they are legal or illegal. The GSCPCR had also instructed both the Collectors to restrict access to the quarries by fencing with barbed wires to avoid future deaths," claimed Yuri.
He added: "Issuing advisories of banning swimming at rivers, waterfalls and canals etc. has become a routine, casual exercise for the government. There is no seriousness in taking strict preventive measures. The absence of law-enforcing authorities is also the reason for repeated deaths at stone quarries and canals. The government has also failed in the deployment of lifeguards at lakes and waterfalls frequented by the tourists."
Saying it is the insensitive approach of the BJP government which is claiming the lives of the youths in Goa, Yuri said the government which is "obsessed with events" failed to abide by the directions given by the GSCPCR. "Government needs to inform the citizens on the findings of the committee constituted by the Department of Mines," stated Yuri as he appealed to the people of Goa to take utmost precautions while visiting beaches, waterfalls, lakes etc.
"Youths should not venture into mining pits or stone quarries for swimming. As it is clear that the government cannot save our lives, people will have to take care of themselves," urged Yuri.
