Iron slag dumping issue resurfaces in Bhoma meet

Ponda: The issue of dumping of iron slag in natural water resources along the green hills of Bhoma and Adcolna villages resurfaced after 11 years at the gram sabha held on Sunday. However, this time the iron waste is being dumped on the Adcolna side.A similar issue of dumping iron slag— a waste derived after extracting steel— in the nullah on Bhoma hill was raised in a meeting held in May 2014, and the gram sabha had resolved to move a court of law to stop the dumping.On Sunday, villagers raised the issue of dumping iron slag in the gorge and burying sweet water springs by the industries situated on the hill.Deputy sarpanch Damodar Naik said the panchayat would seek a joint inspection with the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC).Referring to the issue of 2014, Naik said the dumping was soon stopped as the factory had stopped producing iron ingots. In the present case, the panchayat had informed the GIDC officials about it and despite an assurance to stop the dumping, the issue was ignored.After the gram sabha on Sunday, the panchayat body inspected the dumps.