Saipem locals tell Goa govt not to allow Berger Becker plant to resume operations

CALANGUTE: Residents of Saipem village in Candolim, reeling from the toxic fumes and contaminated well water after the recent fire at Berger Becker plant at the Pilerne Industrial Estate, have demanded with the government not to allow the company to restart operations.
The residents,at a protest meeting on Wednesday night, said that they had opposed the setting up of the factory a few years ago fearing pollution. The paints factory is located atop a hillock adjacent to Saipem.
“Berger Becker had assured us that they had put all safety measures in place, but that has turned out to be a false assurance,” Assis Cardozo, a resident who had protested the setting up of the factory, said.
Many Saipem residents had to shift to safer places on the night of the fire after they were told to evacuate due to the toxic fumes. “We had to leave our homes at 10.30pm after people started choking because of the poisonous fumes. We couldn't bear the smoke. Two days later we found our wells were polluted,” a resident said.
“We had to make our own arrangements. Some went to their relatives, some went to guest houses. There was no help from the government,” another resident said.
They added that the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) is taking the situation casually. “They are saying everything is fine. But we don’t want Berger Becker here. We are all united and hope the government listens to us. We appeal to the government to act at the earliest and close down the factory,” they said.