NT NETWORK
BICHOLIM
The Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has asked the mining company operating in Adwalpal, Bicholim to take utmost care while carrying out mining there so that the health of the people is not affected besides taking all precautionary measures while transporting ore.
The Chief Minister also directed the company to take care to preserve water bodies and forest cover.
Parsekar was addressing the Advalpal villagers when Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal along with some of the locals called on him at his chamber at Porvorim.
The discussion on the demands of the villagers which need urgent attention from the government was held. The villagers demanded to curb pollution being caused due to mining being carried out in the village.
The locals demanded to withdraw cases filed against them for opposing mining activities prior to the mining ban, to provide opportunities for transporting ore to the local truck owners, to sort out the water shortage problem caused due to diversion of lake water by the mining company, and to protect fields.
Sawal emphasised the need for the mining company to extend full cooperation to the locals and see that their interests are safeguarded.
He requested the Chief Minister to accord priority in fulfilling the demands of Advalpal villagers.
The Chief Minister asked the mining company officer to see that villagers do not suffer at any cost due to the lack of basic and other amenities.
It would be better if villagers and mining company co-operate with each other, he stressed.
The mining company’s senior officer Joe Luis assured the villagers of co-operation and to provide them the necessary facilities. 20 villagers including Advalpal sarpanch Lakshata Dessai, Vishwanath Naik, Gajanana Palkar, Prasad Salgaonkar, and ex-panch Suresh Gaonkar were present at the meeting.