Irresponsible mining, heavy rains play havoc in Bicholim

BICHOLIM JUNE 9: Irresponsible mining activities coupled with heavy monsoon rains caused damage and destruction which disrupted normallife in the villages of Mulgao and Advalpal in Bicholim taluka on Saturday.

The disaster took place as no measures were taken to prevent mining rejects and rain water from flowing down and wreaking havoc. The force of the water was so strong that it entered houses, uprooted several trees and flooded coconut plantations at Manasbag. The lake of Dhaim was also flooded and caused hardships to villagers.

The deputy collector of Bicholim D H Kenawadekar assured agitated villagers that "All those who are responsible for causing disaster will be asked to pay appropriate compensation to the affected families and precautionary measures will be taken so that the disaster would not be repeated." On his visit, he was accompanied by the joint mamlatdar Brijesh Manerikar.

At Manasbag in Mulgao, houses of Vaman Mandrekar, Tukaram Mandrekar, Rama Mandrekar and Amrut Mandrekar were affected as mining rejects andrain water entered their homes. Avita Mandrekar, a housewife, said "In the wee hours of Saturday water along with the mining rejects entered our house and damaged clothes, utensils and made us helpless."Villagers complained that in spite of informing the management of a mining company well in advance about pre-monsoonal precautionary measures to arrest the flow of the rain water, they did nothing to prevent the disaster.

According to Mulgao panch Vishal Gad, "Presently about 50 houses in and around Manasbag are under threat from mining rejects. If no propermeasures are taken, the future of the area is bleak."

Similarly, in Advanpal, eight houses were badly affected due to the entry of mining rejects and rain water.

Resha Yeshwant Naik from Varchawada, Advalpal with tears in her eyes, said, "The whole night we could not sleep. Continuously for more than five hours we were cleaning our ground floor. Our day-to-day clothing, bedding along with electrical appliances got damaged. Water also entered in our shop and caused us heavy losses.

"The family of Atamaram Naik lost two laptops and other electronic gadgets as they were washed away with the flood water.

Vijay Padloskar, whose house was damaged, said, "The mining company is responsible for causing hardship to our family. The company is least bothered about human lives.

"It may be recalled that a mining disaster took place in Mulgao in July1991, in which four people had died, six people were seriously injured and 144 farmers in Vhalshi near Mulgao suffered heavy losses. (ToI)

As circulated on bicholim-goa@googlegroups.com by Samir Umarye on Jun 9, 2009 at 9:46 PM.