North Goa Collector Issues Urgent Order for Quarry Safety Fencing
In a decisive move to prevent tragic accidents, North Goa collector Ankit Yadav has issued a comprehensive order mandating that all stone quarries and open pits in the district be securely fenced within the next 30 days. This directive comes as a response to growing concerns over serious injuries and fatalities reported in and around abandoned and disused quarry sites.
Addressing a Grave Monsoon Threat
The North Goa Disaster Management Authority has highlighted the persistent danger posed by these abandoned quarries, particularly during the monsoon season. "Such abandoned quarries pose a grave and continuing threat to human life, livestock and public safety, especially during monsoon due to water accumulation, slippery terrain and reduced visibility," stated Collector Yadav in the official order.
Every year, Goa witnesses multiple incidents of drowning at waterfalls, abandoned quarries, and other unmanned water bodies. The new measures aim to directly address this recurring seasonal hazard through proactive safety enforcement.
Strict Compliance Requirements and Verification Process
The order outlines a rigorous compliance framework with multiple verification layers:
- All quarry owners and lease holders must submit detailed compliance reports within the 30-day deadline
- Reports must include self-certification, site photographs, and precise location details of the quarries
- Mamlatdars and talathis are tasked with physically verifying whether proper fencing has been installed
- Barbed-wire fencing and other effective barriers must be erected along quarry peripheries
- Clear warning signs must be prominently displayed along all fencing
Enforcement Mechanisms and Penal Consequences
The collector's office has established robust enforcement protocols to ensure compliance:
- Mamlatdars are authorized to conduct physical inspections of all abandoned quarries
- Inspection reports must be submitted to the collector's office within 45 days
- Non-compliance, partial compliance, or false reporting will attract penal action
- Penalties may include substantial fines or even imprisonment for serious violations
If quarry owners or lease holders fail to implement the required safety measures, the collector's office will arrange for the fencing installation and recover all costs as arrears of land revenue from the defaulting parties. This provision ensures that public safety will be maintained regardless of individual compliance levels.
Systematic Approach to Public Safety
This initiative represents a systematic approach to addressing a long-standing public safety concern in North Goa. By combining strict deadlines, multiple verification layers, and substantial penalties for non-compliance, the administration aims to create a sustainable solution to the quarry hazard problem. The order emphasizes that protecting human life and livestock from preventable accidents in these dangerous locations is now an urgent administrative priority that will be enforced with full regulatory authority.
