Maulingtad locals fear flooding due to breach of mining pits

[samir umarye]

--

Samir Umarye

BICHOLIM: The residents of Maulingtad in Sanquelim fear that accumulated water would breach the mining pits and flood their homes. They also claimed that water from these pits is seeping into their houses during heavy rainfall.

There are 30 houses at the foot of the hill where mining was carried out for years. The pits on other side of the hill have gone very deep and the residents have blamed that the water from these pits is entering their houses.

“During heavy rainfall, the pits get flooded and this water seeps into our houses,” Sanquelim Municipal councillor, Dayanand Boryekar told Herald. According to locals the water seeping into their houses floods the entire house.

According to another local, “Sometimes the flow is so much that it becomes even difficult to sit on the floor in the house. The pits have gone very deep and we are just waiting for a tragedy to happen.” The residents feel that the authorities are not concerned about the problems faced by them in the area.

“We have submitted letters to the deputy collector and the mamletdar but no action has been taken so far,” Boryekar said. He demanded that the company should fill the pits and should not allow water to get accumulated in these pits.

The residents feel that the dump of the mining company on top of the hill should also be removed as it is a possible threat to their lives. They claim that it is not only during monsoon season but even during other seasons that water seeps into their houses.