Mining trade is Goa's ecocide

Open cast Iron ore mining that we inherited as Portuguese Colonial Legacy has caused all round irreversible damage to Goa's People, our agriculture, our water sources - the springs and wells, our rivers, our mountains and even the air we breath. Water - the very essence of life on planet earth has been major casualties. Not only mining affected villages in Goa's hinterland has become water deficient due to digging of mines as deep as 40 meters below sea level thereby sucking our villages dry but also created water disaster for the entire coastal Goa as water reservoirs of our three dams - Assanora Water Works, Opa Water Works and Selaulim Water dam - are blessed with mining activities in their catchment areas.

Government of Goa instead of cracking down on these has allowed these companies to make this beautiful state of Goa water deficient as so many high powered water pumps are pumping water out from these pits 24 hours a day. Goa is headed for major disaster not only because we the People of Goa will have no water to drink but also tourism industry will collapse. As the water shortage will become acute, big 5 star hotels and industry will get priority of water supply over people. Our tap water very often carries water with reddish colour. Selaulim dam though located in Sanguem supplies 25% of its water to Salcete and 18% to Murmagao talukas. Same is the relationship of Opa Water Works and Assanora Water Works in relation to Bardez and Tiswadi Talukas.

Goa's draft Mineral Policy instead of curbing mining in Goa is seeking to promote the same in lot more aggressive manner by providing clearance to mining leases on cluster basis instead of planning to close down the mines that presently benefits only China. The overall mining activities is also disastrous as the leases cover 95 kms out of total 105 kms of Goa's stretch from North to South of Goa. We reject the draft Mineral policy totally and put in record that we do not need mining nor the mineral policy and we are burdened with passing on our beautiful Goa to our future generations. We can best do this without Open cast Iron Ore mining anywhere in Goa.

On priority basis all the mines - legal as well as illegal - needs to be closed down Goa's mining industry needs to send packing home as it is number one enemy of Goa's environment and its Public health causing innumerable diseases particularly related to lung infections. Immediate plan to reclamation of mining pits must be put in place.

Mining industry is source of terror on People's habitations in mining belt, Water security - streams, ponds, wells and dams, Food security - agriculture and horticulture, Our Forests, Our rivers, Our fish supply, Our irrigation systems, Our Democracy and Our health. No industry in Goa has terrorised people of Goa as much as mining industry has for over half a century.

Central government and its Ministry of Forest and Environment has opened shop for dishing our Environmental Clearances for every lease that has conducted Public Hearing over the past few years. The total 128 mining leases has been given Environmental clearances through 98 Environmental Clearances according to the latest information we received. Tiny State of Goa just cannot bear all this and Goa Government through its Chief Minister must publicly write to the Prime Minister of union of India to direct Union Ministry of Forest and Environment to withdraw all the Environmental Clearances and there by withdraw legal sanctity to ecocide of Goa.

Sebastian Rodrigues