Even 48 hours after the landslide that buried six workers at a mining dump in Goa, only one body has been recovered so far.
PANAJI: Even 48 hours after the massive landslide that buried six workers at a mining dump in Goa, only one body has been recovered so far. This despite a combined effort by locals, the army, navy and the police. Navy divers were deployed for an under water search on Monday.
"It's a tricky site and despite political pressure, we cannot hurry up the recovery process for fear of causing another accident. It will take some time," Rajiv Yaduvanshi, secretary, mines, told DNA. The landslide was 100 metres high and covered an area of 12,000 square feet. It crushed six workers and six vehicles underneath.
Chetan Timblo, owner of the mine, said: "The company will take care of the families of those who died." Timbolo was gheraoed on Saturday and Sunday by the grieving relatives, who accused him of paying no heed to safety measures. According to Babi Velip, who has filed a petition against mine owners for causing pollution and destroying the fields and wells in the area, the hapless workers are paying the price for the owners' negligence.
The mine had received a safety clearance certificate from the Margao-based Directorate of Mines Safety last week. It's the first major mining accident in Goa in more than 10 years. Mining is the second largest revenue earner in Goa after tourism, and it brings in a revenue of Rs 5,000 crore annually. According to Sridhar of the Mine Owners Exporters Asscociation, around 25 million tones of iron ore was exported last year.
There are 25 mines in Goa that give employment to around 3,000 people. However, many are contract workers said a source in the Iron and Manganese Ore Mines Welfare Fund Organisation. And contract workers virtually get no benefits, they added. The Sanguem police have registered an offence against four officials of the mining company, including its managing director. They have been charged under Section 304(A) (negligence) of the Indian Penal Code. A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered by the government. While villagers accuse the mine owner for the accident, officers in the management committee feel that the Directorate of Mines Safety will probe the actual cause of the disaster.
Former chief minister Manohar Parrikar criticised the government for its "inept" handling of the situation and said the tragedy has exposed the lack of a disaster management plan in the state. Blaming the state administration for its lapse in conducting regular safety checks, Parrikar said all mines in Goa should now be inspected to avert such misfortunes in future.
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