Goemkarponn desk
PERNEM:
Four village panchayats in Pernme taluka has alleged that due to the negligence of Mopa International Airport Construction Company, the cyclone Tauktae on May 15 has caused immense damage to farmers in four panchayats of Warkhand Nagzar, Chandel Hasapur, Ugwe Mopa and Kasarwarne.
The panchayats said during the cyclone the cashew plantation, traditional nallas and ponds.
Chandel Hasapur Panchayat Panch and Pedne BJP Mandal president Tulshidas Gavas told reporters at Pedne that the villagers will give eight days to the government, the company and the airport authority to compensate he locals failing which they would seek legal help.
Warkhand-Nagzhar, Chandel-Hasapur, Ugwe-Mopa and Kasarvarne Gram Panchayats, Deputy Sarpanchs and Sarpanchs together submitted a memorandum for compensation to Deputy Collector Ravi Shankar Nipanikar.
Warkhand-Nagzar Sarpanch Sanjay Tulaskar, Panch Mandar Parab, Chandel Panchayat Deputy Sarpanch Sham Naik, Shashikant Mahale, Nikhil Mahale were present on the occasion.
The panchayats alleged that due to negligence and lack of proper planning by GMR Company, which is constructing the Mopa International Airport, the storm that struck on the 15th has affected farmers in four Gram Panchayat areas of Warkhand-Nagzhar, Chandel-Hasapur, Ugwe-Mopa and Kasarwarne.
“The sludge coming down from the plateau has contaminated the water at Mopa. It has also destroyed houses and cashew plantations,” the panchayats said.
They said they have ubmitted complaints to GMR Company but the Company has ignored their grievances. The cyclone has caused losses of crores, Shashikant Mahale said.
The locals said that they start cultivation by taking loans from people.
“We demand the areas be inspected and the farmers should be compensated,” they say adding the traditional ponds, springs, valleys, wells in the village have been destroyed.
They said the red soil layer on the plateau has contaminated the water in the wells, ponds, shifts.
The GMR Company, which is responsible for depleting the natural resources of the village, needs to take action before all the four Panchayats take further action.
Deputy Collector Nipanikar said that a report will be submitted to North Goa District Collector, Local MLA, Chief Minister, Airport Authority Ministry tomorrow, informed Tulshidas Gavas on the damages caused.
