Daijiworld Media Network - Sarzora

Sarzora, Jul 6: Tension erupted in Sarzora village on Saturday after alert residents caught a pick-up van driver red-handed while he was dumping animal carcasses along an internal road near a stream, causing a major stink in the area.

For several days, locals had been complaining of a foul odour along the Sarzora–San Jose de Areal bypass road, with unknown individuals allegedly turning the roadside into an illegal dumping ground for animal waste.

Fed up with the worsening situation, villagers began patrolling the stretch at night to catch the culprits. However, sensing the increased vigilance, those responsible shifted their dumping to daytime hours.

When the locals discovered the new tactic, they intercepted a van during the act, forced the driver to reload the waste he had already dumped, and handed him over to the Cuncolim police.

The Sarzora panchayat has decided to impose fines on anyone found dumping waste in the area. During preliminary questioning, the driver claimed he had transported the animal waste from Mandopa–Navelim.

The incident has renewed calls for stricter waste management enforcement and surveillance in rural areas to prevent further environmental and health hazards.