Bicholim: After Piligao, locals from Sarmanas, Mulgao and Poira in Bicholim taluka—mostly farmers—have also begun protesting against mining activities, alleging that companies are going ahead without addressing villagers’ demands.Mulak Khazan farmers’ association member Sakharam Pednekar said that the mining company operating in Mayem has failed to address the demand to rejuvenate farmlands. Farmers demanded the desilting of their farmlands, where mining sludge had accumulated over a long time.
Pednekar said their requests have not been accepted, and the company has not carried out any development in the village.Farmers have set a one-month deadline for the company to desilt their farmlands.Yeshwant Karbotkar, a farmer, said if the mining company management does not respond to the farmers’ call, they will march to the mining site and launch an agitation. Another farmer, Rohidas Mainkar, said they had informed chief minister Pramod Sawant about the issue last year, and department officials visited the farmlands in April, but no action has been taken since.
