Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today said that it is proposed to instruct all the mamlatdars to make an inventory of all illegal abandoned quarries and the land owners will be held responsible for not barricading such abandoned quarries and put sign boards cautioning the public.
MLA Ganesh Gaonkar raised a calling attention demanding answer on non-enforcing of the directions on fencing of illegal quarries resulting in deaths by drowning repeatedly.
He also said that the owners or operators of such quarries should the held liable by the authorities.
“It is proposed to instruct all the mamlatdars to make an inventory of all illegal abandoned quarries and the land owners will be held responsible for barricading such abandoned quarries and put sign boards cautioning the public,’ said Sawant.
Sawant said that there are 74 quarry leases granted by the Directorate of Mines & Geology, of which 60 are Basalt, 12 Laterite, 1 Dolomite & 1 Bentonite.
“As per the lease condition, the lease holder has to barricade the lease boundary by way of fencing. In this regard a circular dated 13-6-2023 has been issued to all the lease holders so as to furnish compliance to the said condition of the lease deed,” he added.
Sawant informed tSome quarry owners have given compliance report with photographs. All the leases will be inspected by the Directorate and if there is any non- compliance the lease will be suspended.
Inregards to illegal quarries, Sawant said that Government has constituted a flying squad vide Order dated 29-8-2022 under Mamlatdar of respective taluka to monitor and take action against such illegalities.
“The flying squads in different talukas have found many illegal quarries operating wherein machineries have been seized and FIRs have been filed,” he added.
The chief minister also said that it is proposed to instruct all the mamlatdars to make an inventory of all illegal abandoned quarries and the land owners will be held responsible for barricading such abandoned quarries and put sign boards cautioning the public.
