Tribunal seeks cancellation of mining leases in tribal area

The Hindu, June 02, 2009

Special Correspondent

‘Existence of tribal communities in Goa is at stake because of mining’

PANAJI: A people’s tribunal on restoration of tribal homelands in Goa on Sunday sought immediate cancellation of mining leases that affect livelihood of the tribal people in the State.
The tribunal under the former judge Suresh Hospet, which held a two-day hearing here, heard 60 submissions from Goa’s Gawda, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar tribal communities. The tribunal observed that the area, which the Goan mining companies in private sector claimed to have leases or concessions, was mostly inhabited by the tribal people.

The people’s tribunal was organised by the Gawda, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar Federation. “We have heard 60 submissions from various parts of Goa in the past two days and it is clear from their testimonies that there is a concerted effort to deprive the tribal people of their land, home, sources of livelihood and their human dignity,” Mr. Hospet told presspersons at the conclusion of the hearing on Sunday.

He said the existence of the tribal people was at stake because of mining. Though the tribal people did not have title deeds in some cases, they were in actual possession, the former judge.
“The mining leases that affect the lives and livelihood of the tribal people require to be cancelled,” he said.

The tribunal has called for a fresh look at the State Government’s draft State regional Plan 2021, a land-use plan presently under public scrutiny ahead of finalisation. The tribunal wants it to be tailored in accordance with the Provisions of the Forest Rights Act. Mr. Hospet felt that finalising the Draft RP 2021 would be illegal without the consent of gram sabhas under Forest Rights Act, 2006, with regard to planning of community resources.

He said irresponsible mining, indiscriminate industrialisation and projects such as special economic zones and haphazard real estate development had been responsible for the attack on the lands, lives and livelihoods of the tribal people who had been the custodians of coastal State’s rich environment.

Caroline Collaso, Wandana Sonalkar and Albertina Almeida participated as members of the jury.