The villagers of Rivona in large number including the sarpanch and other panchayat members opposed the Public Hearing conducted on Wednesday by the Goa Pollution control board at Rivona in respect of Zambea Moll iron and manganese ore mine of Roque Santana Barneto, T.C. no. 25/52, Survey nos.- Private – 58, 59, 61 – Govt. 62, 65, Village Rivona, Sanguem Taluka and in respect of Vagha Ghol iron ore and manganese ore mine of M/s Vagha Minerals Pvt. Ltd., M.L. no. 6/Fe-Min/69, Survey no. 11 (P), Village Maina, and parts of Survey no. 19, 109, 115 to 117, 126, 127, Village Rivona, Sanguem Taluka.
The Public Hearing is conducted as per the Revised Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification dated 14/09/06 which was presided over by Addl. Collector - I, South Goa, Shri Prasanna Acharya and Goa Pollution control board Environmental Engineer Rajendra Kamat. The hearing was attended by around 300 villagers from Rivona, Colomba and other adjoining villages. The following villagers raised their objections.
Mrs. Gitanjali G. Naik Sarpanch, Village Panchayat Riviona opposing the mine stated that Nearly 200 families would be affected .There are temples and caves of historic importance which shall be disturbed by the proposed mining activities.Afforestation as promised is not done. The Panchayat will oppose the mining activity.
Shri Chandrakant Rivonkar a local teacher opposing the mine stated that the report submitted by the company is not credible. There are Pandava cases within 200 metres whereas the report says there are no protected sites within 10 kms radius.There is no place to dump the mining rejects. The noise pollution caused will be more than 50 decibels and not the one mentioned in the report. The company uses blasting technique for mining which fact is not mentioned in the report from of its rejection. Mining activity will affect residential houses. The health of the locals will be affected including hearing defects. There is a perennial source of water but does not find a mention in the report. The area is rich in flora and fauna but the report mentions that there is no plantation. Backfilling is not done by any mining company and the assurance given by the mining company is false.
Shri Salvador Dias, Colomba opposing the mine stated River Kushawati is within the radius of 500 metres of the proposed mine.
Dr. Avdhut Prabhudessai stated that Mining activities in locality are not done with the aim of sustainable development but to satisfy the greed of the mine owners. At present three mines are in operation and more mining activities in the area will increase density of traffic on the existing roads which will affect the safety of the locals and their property. He further state that mining activity should be done in phase wise manner i.e first only one or two mines need to be mined after the same are exhausted then they need to be carried and needs to be afforested and other areas for mine needs to be explored. New viral diseases have been detected in the locality which is the off shot of the mining activity.The wild life natural habitat is disturbed by mining area as such they come in the villages and destroy the cultivation. Medicinal plants of the locality will be destroyed which are used by the local Ayurvedic practitioner. He exhibited the proposed Regional Plan of the State Govt. of Rivona Panchayat of Sanguem Taluka. He showed the existing three mines on the Regional mine and showed how the green forest cover shown in that plan shall be erased from the said plan because of the proposed application for renewal of the mine which is a protected Reserved forest and no development slope. The people of the locality so also the mine workers especially the children are affected with respiratory problems like asthma. The proposed mine is in close proximity with the settlement area and as such this proposal should not be granted Environmental Clearance.
Shri Rama Velip an agriculturist from Colomba and an active anti mining agitator opposing both the mine stated that The proposed mining activity would be against the Environment Protection Act, the Air Act, the Water Act and the Forest Conservation Act Western Ghats would be destroyed by the mining hence, no Environmental Clearance should be given. He also stated that some of the survey holding in which renewal of mining lease is asked are identified as private forest by the Karapurkar and Sawant Committee. The Schedule Tribe population is not shown in the report which is the majority population of the locality who are dependent on agriculture. He accused the mining Industry being responsible for global warming.
Shri Xavier Fernandes opposing the mines stated that the report submitted by the company is false and baseless. That the ore is not transported properly as such, it is adding to dust pollution in the locality. The people from the locality are exploited and made to suffer because of pollution caused by mining. That Within the buffer zone there are many Schools including High Schools, but the same is not reflected in the E.I.A report. He further stated that No mining pits of exhausted mine are filled and as such this assurance given by the mining company is false and hence Environmental Clearance should not be given.
Shri Vinod Devidas stated that he resides adjacent to the proposed mine and stated that Health of his and his family members is affected by the existing mines
Mr. Motes Antao stated that Since the mine owners pollute and exploit the farming areas, mining activity should be nationalized for protecting the environment and for sustainable development.
Though the an official from the Department of Forest was present for the Hearing and inspite of giving an opportunity was given to him to present their case, but no explanation nor objection raised even though vast tract of governemtn rich Forest and Cashew land comes within the both the mining leases. 365 written applications were received against the mine.
John Fernandes
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