He is 90 years old. His name is Gopal Gaonkar. With stick in his hand he climbed steps of Laree Temple in his village of Shirgao. Yet this time there was no village temple festival. It was on 5th June 2009 that people from various parts of Goa assembled in this temple to observe World Environment Day. The reason why around 150 odd assembly of people was in session in Shirgao temple was because the open cast iron ore industry has sounded death knell to the Shirgao village and several other villages in Goa. On that day people coming from far and wide shared lunch with Shirgao villagers and so exchanged thoughts on how mining has led to all-round destruction of their villages – water sources, agriculture and forest amongst the most important things. The day's theme - WATER depletion due to open cast iron ore indusry.
Gopal recalled that mining in Shirgao started in the same year that British left India – 1947. Independent was ushering in the country and dependence was beginning in Shirgao village. Shirgao village was in Goa that had different colonial masters – Portuguese. Gopal recalls “First it was bullock carts that transported the ore from our village, then came the truck and soon barges followed in the rivers.”
We did get employment and also some money then. And some in the village still get it now. But if this mining intensity continues then we won’t be able to leave at all in the village. Our village is totally destroyed. We cannot cultivate our paddy any more. Mining has destroyed our water.”
Gopal was speaking soon after songs of protests sang by everyone present with RSD veteral from Goa Devendra Khanolkar in the lead, and Laree temple priest offering special prayer to the deity for rescue of village from the clutches of mining companies.
Then there was Gajanand Gaonkar, former village Sarpanch stepped on to speak up, “Mining companies has adopted the policies of divide and rule in the village”. He further questioned Goa Pollution Control Board for not playing pro-active role in tackling pollution created by mining companies in Goa.
Dr. Claude Alvares of Goa Foundation explained that Nagpur based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute has clearly reported to Goa Bench of Bombay High Court that Shirgao water bodies has dried up due to mining activities. He said the village was traditionally dependent upon the well water and it has been disrupted due to mining activities.
Shirgao has Dempos, Chowgules and Bandekar mining companies in operation that has made huge profits at the expense of Shirgao water bodies, agriculture and soil. D. Gaonkar then gave the startling statistics: 72 wells of village dried up. 5 springs of village dried up. 5 lakes of village dried up. All dried up because of mining.
Harischandra Bhise was part of the group that is battling mining industry across Goa’s border in the North – Kalne village. He categorically stated that State government has decided to sell out Sindadurg district of Maharastra to mining companies. He pointed out that happiness and health is dependent upon nature and State has decided to finish People’s happiness. He observed that Kalne village does not have problem of unemployment and there is no need of mining to generate employment. Bhise identified Rich, State and Political Leaders operating in close connivance with each other to foster anti people agenda of the mining companies. Bhise further narrated incidents of Police repression on false cases of murder filed against Kalne villagers. He said 16 people were arrested and 12 of which are bailed out while 4 are still in prison. He said villagers Satygraha in the village temple of Mauli deity continues for the past couple of months. He was supported by Ulhas Porob from his Kalne village.
Milagrina Antao from Colamb, Sanguem then shared about her village struggle against the mining companies for the past 3 years. She called upon every one to fight for the sake of Children. She also highlighted constant police repression against Colamb people to benefit mining companies. She said this year for the first time tankers have started supplying water to the Colamb village and water has started depleting deeper. She also disclose that there are attempts to bury their paddy fields by landlord to benefit mining companies. She called for fearless struggle against mining companies in Goa.
Rama Velip also from Colamb shared about threat to wildlife due to mining in the forest areas. He shared the example of Bison falling in the well while drinking water and dying. He said because natural springs in the forest have dried up due to mining wild animals are forced to search water in the village wells. He said medicinal plants are also threatened due to mining. He demanded that mines in Goa be closed down.
Devidas Gaonkar from Khotigao pointed out that mining companies are indulging in the abuse of money power and State power. He observed that Goa’s long term happiness lies without mining.
K. Stalin from Baga, Calangute shared his experience of working with tribals in USA who are also struggling for water. He urged people to resist mining companies deisire to displace people.
Swati Kerker of Keri, Ponda declared that struggle is a must in contemporary times. She said mining companies are causing immense harm to nature. Nature, she said is a God.
Mrs. Patkar from Banda, Maharastra expressed her Solidarity with the struggle.
Ulhas Gaonkar from Morpilla challenged the State government to acquire land and give to Goa’s tribal people for agriculture instead of destroying it by mining.
Sujit Kumar Dongre expressed his concerns for depleting of water due to mining acitivies.
Adv. Thalman Pereira reflected on the statement by Vishwasrao Chowgule in 1972 on the eve of strike by the workers on Chowgule mine in Shirgao that Chowgule’s can afford to close to close down the mine as it has earned wealth that is enough for his next 60 generations. Pereira felt mining companies are abusing the villages ecologically as well as economically. He then raised the question of funding of village temple by mining companies.
One of the former temple committee members D. Gaonkar present disclosed that One Crore twenty lakh rupees to the temple has been raised by public donations. While mining companies has contributed rupees thirty lakh as donation. Gaonkar futher held that temples are of no value in the village if village itself is going to be swallowed by the mining companies and its identity eroded.
Sebastian Rodrigues, Convenor of Goa Federation of Mines Affected People (GOAMAP) urged the gathering to be ready for new struggle as the Central government is planning to further delete mandatory requirements of public hearing for mining companies. He also felt that consumers need to be made sensitive about consumption of metals for which mines are dug all over the World.
Teacher, Ramesh Gauns exploded the myth that mining is the backbone of Goa’s economy though his typical story of a Shrigao Crow that reached China to find out where the Shirgao soil is going. He questioned the fate of Sanguem as it has 295 mining leases.
Program ended with a symbolling pouring of water by Laree temple priest in the “Akoaranchem Tollem” water lake that is dried up due to mining in front of the Temple that is known for thousands of Dondhs - devotees coming from all over Konkan region for famous Shirgao Zatra and offer the test of fire by literary walking through fire. And in his speech Ramesh Gauns was clear in his comment: This year (2009) Goa chief Minister Digambar Kamat came for the Zatra and carried pieces of wood on his head to be dumped into for fire Homkand; what Chief Minister however forgot that these piece of wood and mountains of Shirgao are linked together. But Mr. Kamat as Chief Minister and Mines Minister has gifted away the State Mountains for mining companies to raze down and permanently finish villages like Shirgao forever.
Formally, this meeting was called by Shirgao Environment Day Committee and supported by various mines affected people, Organisations - GOAMAP, GBA, GAKUVED, Goa Foundation, Bailancho Saad etc and concerned citizens like Govind Potekar, Durgadas Gaonkar, Minguel Braganza etc from all over Goa.
Sebastian Rodrigues
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