Bharat Mukti Morcha condemns aggression on Tiracol River Ecology

Bharat Mukti Morcha takes strong objections the illegal dredging of Tiracol River in North Goa. On November 03, 2015 at around 3.55 pm illegal dredging of river was noticed. Immediately after that Tiracol member of Keri Panchayat Diego Francis Rodrigues filed complaint before Pernem deputy Collector. Deputy Collector taking cognizance of the complaint directed Pernmen Police Inspector Devendra Gad to initiate action against illegal dredging. Coastal Police as well as Captain of Ports then acted and stopped the work at around 6.30 pm. Then at around 8.30 pm in the night time illegal dredging work started back again. Public protested and fresh police complaints were lodged with in charge of police helpline 100.  According to the reports on November 04, 2015 at 8. 45 am police had taken manager and the operator of the dredging machinery into police custody.

According to the information available dredging was being carried on inside the Tiracol River in order to make way for the barges to transport ore from Aronda Jetty in Maharastra. Dredging process was initiated most likely by mining companies in order to deepen the river so that heavy high capacity barges could find their navigational route cleared through. This includes not only clearing of sand from the riverbed but also forced breading of rocks at the bottom of the Tiracol River. This is an ecological nightmare. Movement of barges in Tiracol River will lead to sure doom for fishing activities in Tiracol River. 

Bharat Mukti Morcha congratulates all those who are involved in the protest action against dredging of Tiracol River and pledges our support in defense of River, Fishing and ecology, and against mining and barge transportation in Tiracol River.