‘The Government’s Failure to Take Preventive Steps Has Resulted in Drowning Deaths at Stone Quarries & Mining Pits’

Margao – It is really painful to see young lives getting lost due to drowning at Stone Quarries & Mining Pits in Goa. It is the failure of the BJP Government to take preventive steps which has resulted in drowning deaths at Stone Quarries & Mining Pits. I demand that the Government must make public the Report of the Committee constituted by the Department of Mines and also place in public domain the Action Taken Report by both the District Collectors on the directions given by Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in July 2023, demanded Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao.

Expressing his grief over the drowning deaths in last few months in Goa at various Water bodies including Mining Pits, Stone Quarries, Canals, Waterfalls and Beaches, Leader of Opposition blamed the lethargic approach of the BJP Government to take effective preventive steps to avoid such cases.

Almost 35 lives were lost due to drowning in Goa in last few years at Mining Pits, Stone Quarries, Canals and Waterfalls. This includes death of 4 innocent children at a Stone Quarry at Tuvem in 2019, a death of 24 years Youth at Mining Pit in Curpe, Sanguem and drowning death of a student at Cansaulim, death of 21 years youth at Revora, Thivim and drowning death of 19 years youth at Nanora. Incidentally 17 year boy Mohit Kashyap lost his life at Nanora, informed Yuri Alemao.

The Department of Mines & Geology had constituted a Committee on 30th June 2023 to monitor and conduct inspections of the Mining Areas in Goa in view of taking preventive steps. After the unfortunate drowning death of a student at abandoned Quarry at Cansaulim, Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) had taken suo moto cognizance and asked both the District Collector’s to conduct Surveys all Quarries and verify whether they are legal or illegal. The GSCPCR had also instructed both the Collectors to restrict access to the Quarries by fencing with barbed wires to avoid future deaths, claimed Yuri Alemao.

Issuing Advisories of Banning Swimming at Rivers, Waterfalls and Canals etc. has become a routine casual exercise for the Government. There is no seriousness in taking strict preventive measures. Absence of Law Enforcing Authorities is also the reason for repeated deaths at Stone Quarries and Canals. Government has also failed in deployment of Lifeguards at Lakes, Waterfalls frequented by the Tourists.

It is the insensitive approach of the BJP Government which is claiming lives of the Youths in Goa. Government which is obsessed with Events failed to abide by the directions given by the GSCPCR. Government needs to inform the Citizens on the findings of the Committee constituted by Department of Mines, stated Yuri Alemao.

I appeal to the Goans to take utmost Precautions while visiting Beaches, Waterfalls and Lakes etc. Youths should not venture into Mining Pits or Stone Quarries for Swimming. As it is clear that the Government cannot save our lives, people will have to take care of themselves, urged Yuri Alemao.