Thursday, July 31, 2008

Maina: Zoleracho Dongor Public Hearing Objections

From,
Shri John Fernandes,
r/o. Copelabhat, Deao,
Quepem-Goa.
Date: 28/7/2008.

To,
The Chairman,
Goa State Pollution Control Board,
Dempo Tower,
EDC Plaza, 1st Floor,
Panaji-Goa.

Sub: Objection to the public hearing fixed on 2/8/2008 pertaining M/S. Shantilal k and bros. Pvt. Ltd. Zoleracho Dongor iron ore mine under T.C. No.44/51 and Rapid Environment Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan.

Sir,

I the undersigned hereby lodge my objection to the Rapid Environment Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan submitted by the owner of Joleracho Dongor Iron ore Mine based on which public hearing has been fixed on 2/8/2008 by the Goa Pollution Control Board at Paik Dev Hall Maina Quepem for the renewal of mining lease of M/S. Shantilal k and bros. Pvt. Ltd. Zoleracho Dongor iron ore mine under T.C. No.44/51on the following ground:


1. The Rapid Environment Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan prepared by Bhagavathi Ana Labs Ltd and submitted by the M/S. Shantilal k and bros. Pvt. Ltd for the renewal of Zoleracho Dongor iron ore mine under T.C. No.44/51 is false, fabricated, distorted, suppresses important and vital information hence the report requires to be rejected.

2. That after assessing the report one can come to the conclusion that the report was by sitting in the office of Bhagavathi Ana Labs Ltd at Hydrabad and no point of time they have visited the site.


3. The report suppresses the fact that there are residential houses in the leased portion. On the contrary the report on pg 4.16 says that are no human settlement within the mine lease. There are 13 residential house , (four in survey No.28, 6 in survey No.24 and 3 in survey No.32) out of which 6 belongs to the Dhanger community , in which around 150 people are residing. There are also two temples namely Paik Dev Temple and Sateri Temple which also comes within the leased portion.


4. The report suppresses the fact that the leased portion is a big mountain as its name suggest having thick fully grown forest. This area is a home for our national bird peacock, king Cobra and tiger. As this mountain touches the Cottigao Wild Santuary mountain which is just 3 kms the tiger get spotted in this place.


5. The owner of the mine namely M/S. Shantilal K and bros. Pvt. Ltd. Zoleracho Dongor iron ore mine and its agent has already started operating the mine as big mining pits and mining rejection can be are seen in survey No.27 and 24 and has done extensive damage to the forest, water , air which can be ascertained by inspecting the site. Why the environmental hearing for such a mine at this stage? Can we expect any environmental protection from such a mine owners it they are permitted to operate?


6. That M/S. Shantilal K and Bros. Pvt. Ltd. Pante Pan e Saterkarachi iron ore mine under T.C. No.9/53, M/S. Shantilal K and bros. Pvt. Ltd. Zoleracho Dongor iron ore mine under T.C, No.44/51 , M/S. Tisa Moraes Mining Industries Ubea Fateracho Dongor iron ore mine under T.C. No.1/57 and Devapan Dongor Iron and manganese ore mine of Shri Shaik Salaim under T.C.No01/1951 Cavrem all the mine are attach to each other and are in contigeneous in nature . Hence the overall impact of all mine has to be assess together , and not each mine separately. One this count also the report requires to be rejected.


7.That the archiological site at Rivona are at a distance of 3 kms which comes within the before zone. So also the Ponsamol protected site at Colomba are at a distance of 7 kms from the leased area . However the report on pg.1.2 and on pg.4.24 says that there are no archeological or historical site within the bore zone. The Cottigao wild life sanctuary also comes within the before zone. The Cottigao wild life sanctuary which is mentioned as at a distance of 11 kms is false and fabricated as the Cottigao wild life sanctuary is at a distance of around 3 kms from the leased portion. The Cottigao wild life sanctuary boundary mountain can be seen from the Paik Dev Temple Maina.

8. The report based on false facts. The Report says that the area is a hilly area , the name itself suggest that it is a mountain.

9.The undersigned state that no mining activity can leads to sustainable development as any activity which does not secure the needs of the future generation cannot be termed as Sustainable development. The mining industry/activity does not guarantee the needs of future generation hence the development done by mining industry cannot be termed as sustainable development. The industry which does not secure the needs of future generation should not be promoted.

10. The mining is not the backbone of Goa’s economy as false proclaimed by the mining companies. That presently the way the mining is going on a day will come the mining industry will break our backbone and we will not be position even to stand. Which can be seen after 10 to 15 years. The Mining industry will die permanently by another 15 to 20 years. Along with it will destroy our forest, water resources, agricultural land. The sins the mining industry has committed over the years will generate number of dieses particularly related to air. In short it will destroy Goa’s economy such industry should not be promoted.

11. The mining industry make the rich richer and the poor poorer. As from the mining industry 20% people get benefited and while 80% suffers. One day a turn will come for the poor people of Cavrem, Maina to bag.

12. The REIA report is false and distorted as it says that there are no dwellings within the lease area as mentioned on pg.4.16 . There are 14 houses wherein around 150 people are residing. The report also does not give correct picture of the ST population as 80% of the population in the buffor zone is form ST community.

13. The area were the mine is proposed is cover under thick forest and is a home for different animal such as spotted Dear, Byson, leapords, tiger etc. and for different reptiles including king Cobra and birds including national bird peacock. The start of mining activities in that area will destroy the forest , affect the animals, reptiles, birds .

14. The Government High School Mina is at a distance of just 300 mts wherein around 300 students are studying. The dust and noise pollution caused by the mining activity will affect their health.


15. The Corca River which is a tributary of Kushawati River is at a distance of around 500 mts. from the proposed mine. The government this year has constructed 4 bandaras over the Corca River at an estimated cost of Rs.4 crore in order to bring 100 acre of land under cultivation. The proposed mine will destroy the Corca river and the amount invested in constructing the Bandaras will go in waste.

16. That as per the report of Sanjevani Sugar Factory there is an area of 101.87 hectors under sugarcane cultivation and on which around 90 farmers of surviving the proposed mine affect the sugarcane cultivation in the area and will affect the farmers surviving on it. Similarly around 200 hectors of land of Maina village is under cashew cultivation of private owners and Goa Forest development Corporation, the proposed mine will affect it.


17. There are number of medicinal plants in the proposed mining area which are being used by the villagers for their medicinal use. The proposed mine will destroy these plants and will destroy the medicines of the Tribals.

18. The area mentioned in the notice and in the survey record does not tally. The area as per survey record is more.

19. The property information given on pg.4.21 is false. The report says that the entire area is a private land the undersigned states that there is vast track of forest land comes within these survey holding.


20. That area under forest cover as mentioned on pg.4.20 is also wrong 95% of the area of the leased portion is under forest cover.

21. That due to constant exposure to dust due to the mining the people in the locality will suffer from different dieses like Asthoma, T.B, Silicoses etc as mentioned in the report it self on pg. 4.25.

In view of above the Rapid Environment Impact Assessment and management plan/report submitted by M/S. Shantilal k and bros. Pvt. Ltd. Zoleracho Dongor iron ore mine under T.C. No.44/51 be rejected.


Yours Faithfully
Copy to

1. The Hon’ble Minister of Environment and Forest
Government of India,
New Delhi.

2. The Hon’ble Minister of State,
Ministry of Env. and Forest,
Govt. of India, Paryavaran Bhavan,
CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi.

3. The Hon’ble Secretary,
Ministry of Env. and Forest,
Govt. of India, Paryavaran Bhavan,
CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi

4.The Hon’ble Minister of Environment and Forest,
Government of Goa,
Porvorim-Goa.

5. The Chief Secretary,
State of Goa,
Porvorim-Goa.

4. The collector South Goa,

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