For more than 20 years limestone crushers have become a baneto village panchayats of Guleli, Khotoda and part of Ganje village in Ponda.
Two limestone crushers in Kankirem in Guleli villagepanchayat have been wreaking havoc disturbing the peace of locals and harmingthe environment.
The crushers have had disturbing effect on the environment,as the river flowing in the area is polluted due to the residue which directlyflows into the river. The loud noise created by the crusher cause irreparabledamage to the locals living in the area.
Further massive deforestation also takes place in the area.To expand their business, the crusher owners have indulged in massive treecutting in the area.
Unfortunately work on the two crushers goes on unabatedallegedly with political blessing. No amount of complaints can halt theextraction of basalt stones in the two crushers, as the owners of the crushersare known to command political clout.
A huge quarry which was developed by the crusher plants hadbypassed all departmental norms and the forest law.
Deputy Collector, Narayan Gad said that he has not receivedany written complaint from anyone. “I will take action only when someone givesa written complaint to my office,” Gad said.
Large-scale deforestation has had harmful effect on theenvironment. For the last ten years the rainfall graph is on decline in thearea mainly due to the deforestation carried out in the area.
The residue spillage from the quarry and the crushing unitsenter the river resulting in pollution. The spillage gets accumulated on thebank of the river thereby reducing its width.
Assistant engineer, Water Resource Department, Valpoi,Ganpat Raiker said that he would visit the site any time next week. “It’s justabout two months ago that I have taken charge here. I am aware about the limestone crusher units and the damage caused to the river due to these units. Iwill visit the site next week,” Raiker said.
Increase in basalt sediment in the river will force theriver water to enter into the fields, which are located on the river bank.
At present almost half of the river bed is deposited withthe basalt sediments due to negligence of the crusher owners. It is also foundthat most of the area on the bank of the river is encroached by filling it withmud.
Shankar Fadte a paddy field cultivator in the area hasblamed the management of the crushers who he says have robbed his livelihood.“My paddy field has been destroyed as river water has entered in my fields.This has affected my family earnings,” Fadte has said.
“The crushers havebought untold destruction in the area. This is not acceptable to us. Almostfifty percent of the area is already destroyed with this activity,” saidVishant Nabar the sarpanch of Guleli. “I am aware about the problem and a showcause notice has been already issued to the owners why the NOC should be notrevoked,” he added.
