Goa's Forest department accused conivance with mining companies

The villagers of Colomba, Rivona and adjoining villages accused the government official including officials of Forest department of being in connivance with the mining companies in destroying the Forest area and environment at a Public Hearing called by the Goa Pollution Control Board in respect of two mines at Rivona on Wednesday July 15, 2009.

That allegation of the of the public seems to be hold good as though the officials of Forest department were present for the public hearing on Wednesday at Rivona and inspite of the fact that vast track of rich Forest land including cashew plant developed under Goa Forest development corporation comes within both the mining leases the forest officials did not bother to raised any objection inspite of giving opportunity by the presiding officer.

“As we have given them a written notice to the forest department that for the first time their officials remained present for a public hearing today. In the past for every hearing held in Quepem and sanguem taluka they remained absent inpite of the fact they their land comes within the mining lease" informed Motes Antao of Colomba.

Attacking the government machinery of puppets of the mining Rama Velip of Colomba stated that False cases are filed against him and other anti mining villagers of Colomba and such five cases have been filed before Sanguem Court. He further stated that are being pressurized using Government machinery including the Dept. of Mines.

Xavier Fernandes accused the P.I. of Quepem Santosh Dessai, Dy-Collector of Quepem Venancio Furtado and South Goa Collector Shri G.P. Naik as agents of mining companies. "These official who get kickbacks from the mining companies are harassing the agitators to satisfy their mining boses. The Forest department officials are hand and glove with the mine owners and do not protect the Reserve Forest land the Wild Life Sanctuaries" Fernandes remarked.

"Government does not protect the common mans right but protects the rights of the mine owners and their 5 star hotels, even to the extend of amending the Century old Legislations, which is a murder of democracy" he firther noted.

John Fernandes