SUDDALE LOCALS IRKED BY FISH PROCESSING PANT ACTIVITIES

Residents of Subdale near Barcem in Quepem taluka are up in arms against a fish processing unit in the village and have accused it of polluting the natural water resources in the area.

Rallying under the banner of United Tribals Association Alliance (UTAA), Subdale residents on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the South Goa district collector demanding closure of the fish processing unit. UTAA in its memorandum pointed out that fish drying activities were being carried out in the open by the fish processing unit without putting in place any anti-pollution measures.
"These highly polluting activities have caused contamination of natural ground water resources as all rejects, including rotten material, find their way into the streams and rivulets flowing through the village. As this forms the principal source of drinking water for the villagers, the fish processing unit has turned out to be a major health hazard for the locals," UTAA president Prakash Velip told reporters.

Pointing out that some 35 villagers had lost their lives under strange circumstances, Velip demanded that the health authorities conduct a study to ascertain the exact cause of the deaths.
"The villagers have reasons to believe that the deaths occurred due to very high levels of pollution. Subdale village has turned out to be a pollution zone. Apart from the fish-drying activities -- that emit extremely foul smell and contaminate water resources -- there also exist several stone crushing units in the vicinity that cause dust pollution," Velip told .
Mhalu Gaonkar, a Sabdule resident warned that the villagers would be forced to take to the streets if the authorities fail to heed to their complaints immediately.
"We have brought this to the notice of the authorities several times, but to no avail. Some 35 people from Subdale have lost their lives so far, and we believe that the deaths occurred primarily due to consumption of contaminated water. All our complaints to the government authorities, including the Goa State Pollution Control Board, have gone unheeded," an agitated Gaonkar told , adding that "the dust from the stone crushing units has affected the horticultural plantations in the village".