Villagers to oppose any grant of mining lease in Balli

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, NOV 29
Villagers of Balli on Sunday unanimously resolved to oppose any grant of mining lease in the village.

Villagers turned up in large numbers for the Sunday gram sabha which was convened specifically to discuss the permission sought by a mining company for a lease to carry out mining activities in the area.

Agitated villagers vehemently protested against what they termed as the delay by the revenue officials from Quepem taluka to display the notice in the village panchayat office within the time frame.

They demanded to how a major lapse could take place when the notice was displayed well after the expiry of the deadline and called for action against the erring officials.

Conveying a message loud and clear to the government authorities that villagers will not tolerate any mining activity in the village, the villagers have resolved to continue the movement under the banner of Ghanv Bachao Samiti to take the agitation to the logical conclusion. A committee headed by Shanu Velip has been set up to pursue the matter.

Some of the villagers called for a gherao of the Quepem Mamlatdar to demand explanation over the serious lapse of displaying the notice inviting suggestions and objections from the public to the mining lease.

Some of the villagers are planning to convene a public meet in Balli shortly to oppose the mining lease but also to condemn the lapse from the government authorities. It is likely that neighboring villages of Morpilla, Fatorpa and Barcem may also join the agitation as the mining companies have also sought mining lease in these villages as well.

Herald, November 30 2009, Panaji