RUPESH SAMANT

Panaji (GOA) In what is direct off-shoot of the current situation on the mining industry,  a perennial waterfall which is considered to be of religious significance has dried out, for the first time in last 500 years.

The waterfall located along the rock cut Caves are dated back to the Pandava times, which has given touristic importance to this place which is 50 kms away from Panaji city.

The locals claim that it is for the first time in their life that they have seen this perennial source of water drying out, even as the summer is yet to set in.

“The mines which are located upstream this waterfall have gone so deep that they have actually disturbed the water table,” explains Sangesh Kundaikar, Vice President, Rudreshwar Temple at Harvalem.

“The waterfall has a history known up to 500 years and people claim that it has never happened that the waterfall has gone dry to such an extend,” Kundaikar said.

Kundaikar said that the mine owners are responsible for such kind of situation, which could have been avoided.

The rivulets which are feeding this waterfall have thinned out. This is for the first time that we have seen that the waterfall has dried completely in the month of March itself, he said.

A dozen of mining leases which are located upstream the waterfall in Sonshi village used to divert the water for their use and later pump it back into the rivulet. But stoppage of mining activity has forced the mine owners to abondon their leases.

State government has issued a circular asking the mine owners to continue pumping water from the pits owing to the safety issues but in many cases, the mine owners have refused to dewater the pits.

“Majority of the mines have stopped dewatering due to which there is no flow in the rivulet resulting it to have dried up. Some of the mines upstream this waterfall have gone below the water table due to which there is imbalance,” Haresh Melwani, a mine owner and member of Goa Mining Association.

It is not just rock caves but also presence of the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva gives religious importance to this place. The ashes after performing final rites on a person are brought here to immerse in the Holy water, which has now completely dried up.

When contacted Director of Mines and Geology Prasanna Acharya was not available for his comment, but a senior officer from the department said that North Goa district collector has called for the meeting of mine owners coming week to discuss the issue.