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Sign the Petition requesting The Honble Minister of State for Environment
and Forests (I/C) to maintain the moratorium on issuing further
environmental clearances for mining activities in Goa
http://goanvoice.org.uk/miningpetition.php
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By John Fernandes Quepem
Yet another day in Quepem town people witness the gory attitude of transport
contractors and truk owners as they pay no respect to the District Magistrate
South Goa G.P. Naik taking into consideration the hardship faced by the
villagers due to excessive mining transport.
The newly formed Quepem Taluka Mining Affected People Front whose members were
closely monitoring and noting the registration number of every ore transporting
truck via Quepem Town from 5.00AM to 7.00PM.
The total number of trips via Quepem Quepem town calculated as 828 trips.
The same is also recorded by video record camera. That as per the order dated
10/4/2010 passed by the Collector of South Goa G.P. Naik, reduces the total
number of trips from Quepem and Rivona-Colomb from 1700 trip to 850 trips
which mean 425 trips via Quepem town . However the total number trips
transported via Quepem town alone exceeded double the limits that is 828 trips.
The notification of the Collector mentions about the timing of mining transport
from 6.00AM to 6.00PM. However as per the monitoring done by the member of the
Front the transportation started as early as 5.30AM and the movement of empty
truck to the loading point started as early as 4.00AM in the morning thereby
disturbing the locals. Similarly the transportation continued via Quepem town
even after 7.00PM. All the trucks were overloaded and were passing infront of
the RTO deputed to inspect. There was also no improvement in the speed limit .
As the trucks were transporting late evening around 70 trucks were stopped by
the villagers of Ambaulim and were sent back.
A incident of speeding truck was noted at Tilamol when a overloaded speeding
truck lost control at the speed breaker at Tilamol church and scooterist
William Rodrigues who was proceeding from Curchorem to Tilamol narrowly escape.
The incident was reported by him to the RTO who were present at the Tilamol
Junction deputed to monitor the mining truck and the RTO then took quick action
by stoping the over loaded truck. Sources informed the said overloaded truck
instead of issuing challen the RTO sent back to the mine where they were
loaded. But these truck were seen parked at Cindio’s Apartment Quepem. Hearing
the Quick corrective taken by the RTO the mining contractor Subhash Fal Dessai
rush to Tilamol and was arguing with the RTO. The RTO then released the other
truck detained at Tilamol.
Speaking to reporters Front member Ajay Pereira condemned the action of
Transport contractors who interfere with the law enforcing agencies while
carrying out their lawful duties. He further stated that such action against
the law enforcing personal is nothing less then Goondagiri.
The Quepem Taluka Mining Affected People Front Convenor Adv. Fedrick Pereira
stated that people will not tolerate such type of Dadagiri. We are presently
only monitoring the mining transport, and if the dadagiri of mining contractor
continues than the people of Quepem will take action in the days to come.
