Thursday, November 25, 2010

Cavrem letter to Chief Conservator of Forest on illegal mining

CAUREM ADIVASI BACHAO SAMITI

c/o. Nilesh Gaonkar,

Gaonkarwada, Caurem,

Quepem taluka, Goa

REF NO. 20/10 Date: 25th November 2010

To

The Chief Conservator of Forests,

The Chairman of the Monitoring Committee,

Gomanta Maratha Samaj Building,

Panaji, Goa

Sub: REQUEST FOR ORDER STOPPING MINING & DEWATERING AT XEC SALIM MINE, TC 01/51, CAUREM VILLAGE, QUEPEM TALUKA

Dear Sir,

We, the members of the Caurem Adivasi Bachao Samiti, living in the Caurem village of the Quepem Taluka, request your immediate intervention to save our village from the disastrous effects of water pollution caused by illegal mining.

We recently had the opportunity to attend the hearing held by the GSPCB regarding the renewal of the Consent to Operate of the subject mine in the office of the Chairman of the GSPCB on 19th November 2010. However, we are greatly distressed by the fact that in spite of assurances given by the mining company's representatives during the hearing that no mining or dewatering is being carried out at the mine, the mining company has continued its dewatering and mining activities. In fact, they have accelerated their excavations and internal transportation activities after the hearing and have engaged a number of excavators and dozens of trucks in contravention of their commitments to the government. They are also pumping out huge quantities of water from the mining pit at nights, thereby causing siltation and pollution of our water ways and paddy fields.

We therefore request you to kindly pass an Order stopping the dewatering and mining activities in the said mine until they obtain the Consent to Operate. Please also give directions to the executive to ensure that the mining company is stopped physically from carrying out mining activities, since they are showing blatant contempt for the law and for their own representations.

We are determined to save our village from any further destruction and shall greatly appreciate your support and co-operation in stopping the illegal mining activities and the irreversible polution of our surface and ground water resources, and for upholding the Law and our Constitution.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-

Tulshidas Velip

Secretary

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