Team Goemkarponn
QUEPEM: Tension is brewing in Naqueri-Betul after residents opposed attempts to legalise an explosive storage godown in the area, citing safety risks and an earlier demolition order issued by the Quepem court.
According to locals, two explosive storage facilities existed in the locality earlier, one of which was damaged in a blast. The second structure, residents alleged, had been operating without proper authorisation and was later ordered to be demolished by the Quepem court for not complying with legal formalities.
However, villagers claimed that efforts are now underway to regularise the same godown, prompting strong resistance from the community. They said allowing storage of explosives in a residential vicinity would put lives and property under serious threat.
Quepem MLA Alton D’Costa, who joined residents in opposing the move, warned that people would be compelled to launch an agitation if the legalisation process is not stopped. He said the concerns of locals must be addressed and safety should not be compromised.
Residents maintained that the earlier blast and court order underline the risks involved and demanded that authorities immediately halt any move to grant legal status to the godown. They also called for strict enforcement of the demolition order, stating that public safety must take precedence over all other considerations.
