The ST community of Panchwadi along with other residents held a meeting today morning at Mallar near vizar matt. The strong gathering was determined to stop the destruction of their pristine village by the govt and a mining company.
The meeting started with numerous speakers waiting to express their grievances and advice. Mr Cristev said that there exists a pathway, bullock cart track passing through survey nos 167,166,165,161,163,159,158,154,157 of village Panchwadi which these ST community are using to take their cattle for grazing, cashew plantation and for Kumeri cultivation.
The Goa government through the PWD is acquiring this road in the name of public purpose and handing out to Sesa Goa mining company for construction of mining road which will help the mining giant own a road private road from their mines to a jetty . This road is passing through the pristine village of Panchwadi and close to Moisal dam. The road which is illegal as there is no public purpose in it will destroy the ST community , pollute the Moisal dam which serves water to a large area beyond Panchwadi.
The dust and noise pollution which will arise due to this road will give innumerous trouble to entire panchwadi village and will even affect their health like the residents of Sanvorden and Quepem who suffer from tuberculosis and other diseases specially lung related.
The ST community and other villagers have decided to oppose any project that will destroy the environment of their village and will not hesitate to come on the road.
The people have earlier complained to all concern authorities but were all deaf with greasing palms.
On 30th August 2010 Panchwadi villagers along with Fr Rodrigues met the Minister of Environment Mr Alexio Sequeira at his Raia residence at 9.30 am in the morning regarding construction of mining road through their village.
The villagers enlightened the minister of the ill effects and other problems of dust pollution, heavy traffic in their small village etc. The minister gave them a patient hearing and showed support and offered to help the villagers by stopping the construction of the mining road meant for sesa goa a mining company, but however did not give a concrete promise that the road will be scrapped.
The villagers were happy with the meeting as the minister understood their problem and offered whatever help he can.
This acquisition of 40 hectares of mangrove forest will destroy the ecosensitive area, mangrove are to be protected but with this acquisition everything will be destroyed. Sesa Goa had purchased 30 hectares of mangrove forest for mining road and dumping of ore, but since this area was tenented they could not construct the road, but now they want the Goa Govt to buy their 30 hectares and another 10 hectares from other owners to construct mining road and loading and unloading of iron ore an the banks of river zuari.
The Sawant and Karapurkar commitee and TERI report conforms the existance of mangrove forest in this area. If road is constructed the Moisal dam which supplies water to the whole village and surrounding areas will get polluted and the whole village will be affected.
Goa Government is acquiring 40 hectares to construct road for public purpose is an eye wash as only Sesa Goa will be using this road, the Government is wrong by claiming the project as public purpose.more than 1500 schedule tribe and 100 schedule caste population will get badly affected with this mining road of Sesa Goa.
It is in public interest that this exclusive road for mining be scrapped.
A detailed note substantiating objection to proposed mining roads & other allied mining activities by M/s Sesa Goa Ltd., Vedanta Group at Village-Panchawadi, Taluka-Ponda, State of Goa
We put before you the following facts for revival of the studies & plans in connection with the mining roads & other allied activities at Panchawadi:
1. Year 1981: House Committee set up by Government of Goa (GoG) to shift Curchorem Railway yards under the chairmanship of Shri. Vaikunth Desai the then Dy Speaker proves that the age old problem of dust & noise pollution is prevailing for last three decades. (GoG till date miserably failed to take any concrete steps to eliminate or at least curtail the same and give justice to its citizens.)
2. Year 1989: Damodar Mangalji & Co. purchased about 56 hectares of wet land at Panchawadi. However they failed to waive off the tenancy rights of the cultivators. Subsequently these wet lands are taken over by Sesa Goa at a later stage.
3. Year 1990: Inspection report by a Committee set up by GoG led by Shri. Jaykrishnan the then Chief Secretary also studied the dust pollution problem.
4. Year 1991: Proposal of GoG regarding mining roads trough Panchawadi village was unanimously opposed by the Gramsabha.
5. Year 1993: Sesa Goa proposal of Bunder Project at Vizar-Khazan-Panchawadi and mining road from Codli to Panchawadi via Camarconda-Vagona-Amblai-Panchawadi was scrapped by the then Chief Minister (CM) Dr. Wilfred D’Souza by visiting Panchawadi village. In the capacity of CM he assured in presence of the then Father of St. Anthony’s Church of Panchawadi that no mining related projects will come in the green zone of Panchawadi. The villagers have witnessed the incident.
6. Year 1994: House Committee set by GoG under the Chairmanship of Adv. Mr. Domnick Fernandes the then Law Minister & Curchorem MLA proposed three stage recommendations. However these final recommendations didn’t include any individual road for Sesa Goa from Codli-Camarconda-Moisal-Panchawadi. Though the annexure to report of various meetings include one road from Costi-Bandol-Panchawadi for Sesa Goa the same is also not recommended. The recommended bypass road is from Uguem-Guddemol-Gandhinagar-Capxem which will be used by all mining companies.
7. Year 1997: TERI official study report advised road diversion from existing Codli-Curchorem road in Santona Village & the diversion to pass from Bandoli & Moisal villages & join further to Capxem bypass for exclusive use for Codli ore transport. Apart from this TERI recorded existence of dense Mangrove forests on 56 Hectares land identified for Bunder project at Panchawadi. “The original land under wet land agriculture over 5 years, been colonized by dense Mangroves.” (In other words Mangroves been colonised since 1992 & are now 18year old trees)
8. Year 1999: Among other Writ Petitions (WP) filed in the Hon. High Court on dust & noise pollution due to mining & allied activities Goa Foundation filed similar WP No123/1999 demanding closure of Curchorem Railway Yard. Chief Justice Mr. Sabharwal & Justice Mr. Bhatta passed an interim ORDER directing Chief Secretary (CS) GoG to file report after studying various Committee Reports. Accordingly CS filed the report in 2000 maintaining the recommendations of Domnic Committee except shifting of Railway Yard to Dukorkond, which he recommended to Xelvona. Other WP pending before the Hon High Court are as follows: (a) WP 76/2002 pertains to Digashi-Panchawadi, (b) WP 50/2006 regarding Sanvordem, (c) WP 323/2006 is against shifting railway yard to Xelvona, (d) WP 617/2006 pertains to Curchorem,
9. Year 2003: Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) approved Panchawadi Bunder Project of M/s Sesa Goa Ltd. Vide its letter Ref No.GCZMA/N/193/301 dated 9.1.2003. (Now lapsed since 5 years have passed, also the EIA is invalid)
10. Year 2006: Agreement between GoG & M/s Sesa Goa Ltd. is signed. Sect.4 under Land Acquisition Act (LA Act) was notified by Govt. of Goa which was objected by Dy. Conservator of Forests North Goa Division along with Villagers of Panchawadi under section 5A of the LA Act. Unanimous Gramsabha resolutions since 1991 of Village Panchayat Panchawadi are on record opposing the said project/proposal & acquisition. The Church & the Devasthans from Panchawadi have also written to the Governor of Goa against the project & mining roads.
11. GoG is acquiring around 1 lakh square meters of area for road and another 3 lakh square meters of land is being acquired from Panchawadi Village for a private Bunder project of Sesa Goa at Vizar-Khazan-Panchawadi 2.5Kms. downstream Zuari river towards Shiroda away from the existing loading jetties at Digashi-Panchawadi. Residents of Village Panchawadi are not taken in confidence till date & their lands are acquired. The acquisition is under the guise of public purpose. The correspondence & other records itself prove that it is a private project of Sesa Goa. The same cannot be acquired under Chapter II of the LA Act. Even if the GoG wants to acquire under Chapter VII of LA Act for a company (which actually cannot be done as it is for a private project) it will have to take a public hearing under Section 40 of LA Act in the Village. The Village Gramsabha is on record of unanimously opposing the said project since 1991.
12. Though the GoG tried to hush up the land acquisition proceedings land owners and tenants/cultivators have refused to accept the notices served under section 12 & 16 of LA Act. In the past Land Acquisition Officer had to leave the Village Panchayat office & run way within ten minutes during her visit to Panchawadi due to the stiff opposition of villagers to the said acquisition.
13. On perusal of the reports of various Committees & the studies it appears that the reports are based on wrong footings, which need revival. We are relying on reports of 1997 & prior to that, which are time barred now. The root cause of dust & noise pollution is the Curchorem Railway yard. The studies since 1981 are all focusing on the inability of MPT to take care of rail borne ore. The question of shifting Curchorem Railway Yard is not the issue now as MPT is developing rail borne ore handling terminal East of Breakwater at Vasco & is designed to handle 12 million tonnes ore. Automatically the rakes will be taken to MPT & Curchorem yard will be closed. As recommended by CS in his Report to Hon High Court even if the Curchorem Railway yard is to be shifted, it will be shifted to Shelvona to handle 10 million tonnes ore where river-rail interface will take care of pollution problem eliminating trucks. This will free truck transport of Karnataka ore on Goan public roads & bypasses to the tune of 22 million tonnes, which is about 50% of the Export through Goa last year. Now the bypasses should be designed only for Goan Ore.
14. It is admitted fact by the mining companies & GoG in various Public Interest Litigations in the Hon High Court that truck transport is the main source of dust pollution. Hence though Sesa Goa claims no demolition of houses and skirting the settlements, the road passes through the settlements, ultimately truck transport will affect the settlements & surroundings in the vicinity. Studies confirm that the mining dust affects vegetation and life in an area of 5Kms radius.
15. Domnic Committee report suggests construction of parallel bridge at Sanvordem & a bridge at Xelvona on river Zuari, shifting of railway yard, parallel road to existing road from Uguem-Costi-Guddemol-Gandhinagar-Capxem in the second & third stage recommendations. However there is neither any road proposed from Codli to Digashi-Panchawadi via Camarcond-Moisal nor any proposal like Sesa’s. Bypass suggested finally ends at Capxem/Xelvona/Digashi-Panchawadi and no bypass ends at Vizar-Khazan-Muxer-Novebhat-Panchawadi i.e. at the centre of Panchawadi village which has a public road from Shiroda to Sanvordem of about 7kms length. In the vicinity of the area where the project is proposed there are about 2500 residents, out of which 1500 are from scheduled tribe community dependent on paddy & cashew cultivation.
16. The report also suggests Construction of roads along or parallel to river Zuari from Capxem to Panchawadi. However these areas along the river are affected by backwaters of river Zuari. Hence in view of dense Mangrove forests identified along river Zuari at Panchawadi by TERI, Sawant & Karapurkar Committee reports CRZ clearance cannot be given to such a private project / Panchawadi Bunder Project & mining road.
17. Also it may kindly be noted that the GoG miserably failed even to implement temporary measures as first stage recommendations forget about reaching to second & third stage recommendations. Whatever is implemented as of now is only on the directives of Hon High Court that too after filing various Public Interest Litigations (PIL) by the citizens. Except construction of parallel road at Sanvordem by the then Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Parrikar, that too in record time, no other recommendation is implemented by the GoG. The PIL filed by the residents of Curchorem with the help of NGO’s in 1999 is still pending in the Hon High Court even after a decade. GoG has no concrete plans to shift the railway yard from Curchorem.
18. Though Sesa Goa claims that the road alignment skirts the settlement areas, it is not true. The fact is that habitation at Panchawadi is scattered throughout the village and the dust generated due to truck transportation and loading & unloading of iron ore & other minerals at Panchawadi will definitely affect the habitation & vegetation within 100meters to 5000meters. Studies have proved & various committees are on record that the mineral dust generated affects 5Kms radius in the surroundings. Along the 11Kms road (Codli to Panchawadi) @ 5Km radius entire vegetation, Moisal dam & habitation will be affected due to dust pollution. The proposed roadside green barrier comprising of tall trees in no way will be able to cover & control dust along 11Kms road & Bunder project at Panchawadi.
19. Proposed road from Codli to Bunder Project at Panchawadi passes through Codli, Camarcond, Moisal & Panchawadi. And to our great surprise the proposed road area from Codli-Camarcond-Moisal is dropped by GoG and the road is only in Panchawadi village. This proves the back door entry of Sesa Goa to acquire land only from Panchawadi with the sole purpose of waiving off the Tenancy Rights in the 35 hectares land already purchased by Sesa Goa Ltd.
20. When the road from Codli to Panchawadi border is dropped, how ore from Codli mine of Sesa Goa will come to Panchawadi? This it self is a million dollar question. This project is a mirage shown to the Hon High Court by GoG & Sesa Goa at the cost of green zone of Panchawadi.
21. Private vehicles other then mining have got no business to do on this proposed road as this road starts from Codli mine of Sesa Goa and ends at the proposed Bunder on the banks of River Zuari. Presently there are various ways to reach Panchawadi from Codli via Dharbandora, Dabal, Shiroda, Camarconda, Moisal & Sanvordem. This road will be only solution to commit suicide as the road ends on the bank of river Zuari. The capacity of this 7 meter wide tar road with bituminous carpet as per agreement will not be sufficient for Sesa Goa’s own traffic which is 20 million tonnes in 2010 & planned further to increase 5times of the same in years to come, forget charging cess from other companies.
22. During the RP20-21 Gramsabha it was unanimously resolved to scrap Sesa Goa mining road in the RP20-21. Accordingly Panchayat has written to the Authority to scrap the road.
23. Panchawadi is in the Green Zone & there is no question of any mining activity or any other industrial activity coming in the village. Panchawadi is a unique village in the entire State of Goa, as it is endowed with about 100 Has of Mangrove forests and khazans, 200 Has of Command area served by a dedicated dam at Moissal, large forests, unending cashew plantations, vast paddy fields & innumerable high yielding coconut plantations. There is no doubt that this village is among the greenest villages in the entire State, which by itself should be enough reason not to allow its destruction. There is no doubt that the mining company's intentions are not only against the interests of the villagers, but are also extremely dangerous to the ecological balance of the entire State.
24. Apart from irrigation the water from Moisal dam is also used for domestic use (drinking) in Village Panchawadi. Presently there are complains from public regarding purification. The mining roads (a) Codli to Panchawadi for Sesa Goa & (b) Uguem-Guddemol-Capxem Bypass passing by the side of Moisal Dam will deteriorate the situation. CRZ regulations are applicable to the Bunder & Jetty points. Also the roads pass through the reserved forests. In view of this Environmental clearance cannot be given to such a Bunder project & mining roads.
25. People learn out of experiences & by visualizing the happenings in their surroundings. The menace of dust & noise pollution due to mining & allied activities is roaring all over Goa & the leading dailies are highlighting the same. The health hazards, accidents, traffic jams & destruction of environment & ecology are only endangering the life of residents in the vicinity. Panchawadi will not be excluded in the near future to come.
26. The villagers of Panchawadi therefore reiterate their demand that the proposed mining activities in Panchawadi be completely dropped, and also declare that under no circumstances shall we allow the nefarious plans of the mining company to succeed. We also advise officials, politicians, reporters and others to accept the reality that we shall never allow this ill-conceived project to materialize.
27. If GoG really interested to know the factual position let GoG officers meet the prominent people, not the politicians or those influenced by politicians, the highly educated & qualified residents, the hard workers, the dependents on the paddy cultivation, fishing & other agriculture, the land owners, the Church, the Devasthans and in particular the Poor people. Take the opinion poll of each household of affected area.
28. We suggest GoG to revive the plans; meet the residents in the vicinity & other commuters on these roads, the land owners, tenants, caretakers & other interested parties whose lands are being acquired by GoG in the name of public purpose. The Constitutional Rights given to its Citizens by Indian Constitution have no meaning in this world. Residents of Panchawadi, the Church & the Devasthans pray god to save life of residents of Panchawadi, Sanvordem, Curchorem & surroundings from these ill conceived plans of Sesa Goa.
While Goa’s Padma winners signed a petition against excessive mining in the state in April, earlier in March, groups from the mining belt joined hands and forced a cancellation of declared public hearings for mining leases. But the battle has just begun, as illegal mining and devastation grow rampant in the state known for its tourist beaches and pristine forests
Devki Katu Velip’s house in Colamb village of south Goa’s Sanguem taluka looks like any other tribal house in the area. Walls painted blue and green, ceilings covered with pink and orange paper streamers…
There is, however, one recent addition. In the room inside, a long, deep gash divides a wall into two halves. It has been caused by mining blasts in their area. “Things get bad during the monsoons, when the water comes in. The house can cave in anytime,” says 60-year-old Devki, the eldest in the family of 22 who have been living with the ominous divide since the last three years.
The divide between the miners and the villagers, a wound they live with. A gash that hasn’t gone deep enough to completely break the wall yet but one that surely threatens to.
Goa, India's smallest state, has the largest area (almost ten per cent) under its colonial legacy — mining. Its iron-ore is largely located in Bicholim, Satari and Sanguem talukas. The demand has been increasing in the last 7-8 years to meet China's – their largest market (86 per cent) – growing demand for iron-ore. In 2008-09, Goa exported over 70 per cent more ore as compared to 2003-04 and produced nearly 40 per cent more for the same years. And as demand soars internationally, Indian mining companies are looking to expand in other countries like Brazil, Latin America and South Africa in the coming time.
While the miners are laughing their way to the banks – the total profit of Goa’s top five mining companies (that account for over 70 per cent of exports and production) has crossed Rs 8,000 crore – the reality is contrary on the ground. The net profit of its largest mining company (Sesa Goa) alone stands at Rs 2,798 crore, while the net revenue of the state of Goa is Rs 2,700 crore. Despite mining being touted as one of the backbones of Goa's economy, the state revenues from mining are barely 1 per cent.
Besides the industry, the top players have a stronghold on the state. In an interview to HT after a moratorium on new mining leases was imposed by the Centre in February 2010, Goa's chief minister and its mines minister, Digambar Kamat, said that infrastructure to support mining like dedicated roads should be built, though he wasn’t sure how the environmental impact would be accounted for. In the assembly session in March this year, his government announced a mineral development fund in the budget after failing to implement a green cess on mining rejects that had been proposed in the last budget – a watered down policy – which sources say is because of mounting pressure from the state’s mining industry.
Moreover, just before the central government placed a moratorium and ordered an environment impact assessment on mining activities in February this year, the union environment and forest ministry had cleared nearly 100 fresh mining leases. “If 110 mines are causing the damage they are, imagine the devastation if another 100 are given permission?” asks Manohar Parrikar, current leader of the opposition.
Shivanand Salgaocar, Managing Director, VM Salgaocar (one of the top mining companies) counters, “All 100 leases won’t go into operation so soon. It takes time to get clearances. Euphoria is because of the frantic demand from China, which will taper off by 2012 once all projects in Australia and Brazil go into full-fledged operation. There is a heavy load on infrastructure currently. Steps are being taken by the government to build a mining corridor along a PPP model. Right now there is a bit of congestion on the roads.”
But while the miners are raking it in, widespread devastation on the ground – drying paddy fields, diminishing ground water and forests, displaced wildlife, health problems – continues.
Add to that, the issue of illegal mining, which in recent times even the state government has been forced to admit to. In the Economic Survey of 2005-06, nearly 2,66,000 sq m of government land was said to have been ‘illegally encroached’ by mining companies. The state that contributes about 15 per cent of India’s total iron-ore has about 110 iron and manganese ore mines that export 35 million tons of ore annually. According to Parrikar, Goa's ore exports exceeded its production by nearly 10 per cent in 2007-08, which rose to 17 per cent in 2008-09. “How can you export more than you produce? There’s obviously massive illegal mining taking place in the state,” he says.
Even the state’s environment minister, Aleixo Sequeira, told the assembly in March that 85 out of 99 mine operators, which included top players like Sesa Goa, Salgaocar, Chowgule and Sociedade Fomento, were continuing mining activities in the state without the mandatory air pollution clearance – in most cases permissions had expired on Feb 28.
While 2009 became the year of ‘a mad mining race’ in Goa, given the growing demand, it was also the year when the state forest department was forced to survey over 40 complaints of illegal mining in forest areas it had received. And it could barely clear any. A highly placed official at one of the top mining companies, who didn't wish to be named, said that “a lot of illegal mining by companies who don’t have legal leases was rampant,” adding that even legal leaseholders encroach on various conditions.
Salgaocar, however, refutes this, “What irregularities? These companies have stopped mining, since their renewals are pending before different agencies. Two of my mines have been shut since 2007 – they are waiting for government clearances.”
The case of Khodidas mine in Colamb, named in the list of illegal mining in forest areas, has a private reserved forest site within its lease. But it still doesn't have forest clearance, while mining activities continue. Residents say the miners have even managed to get permission from the forest department for a 400-metre wide road to transport the ore.
In another instance, Korgao village in Pernem taluka (a first for an area till date known for only its agriculture and horticulture) the government authorities declared gross illegalities in 2008 against ex-MLA and owner of the said property, Jeetendra Deshprabhu, after they found a pit had been enlarged “reportedly for augmentation of water source” without necessary approvals and 5-6 tons of ore kept near the excavated site which had been found having indications of ore deposits. Government authorities in their report said they would consider issuing a show cause notice to the owner. Kishore Naigaonkar, resident of the same taluka, says despite that, “excavations continue at nights. Villagers can’t question him since it's his property, but the mining is illegal since he doesn’t have a lease or the panchayat’s permission.” Adds Pernem’s MLA Dayanand Sobte, “the government assured us that action would be taken, but nothing has happened till date. Earlier the mining happened in the day, now it’s taking place at night.” Deshprabhu, on the other hand, admits that his mining lease is pending with the government, but maintains he hasn’t been indulging in mining. “I’m an agriculturist, not a miner. I’ve been only been planting coconut trees, barricading land from cattle etc. And anyway, this land doesn’t come under the forest conservation act.”
There is simmering discontent with unlawful/excessive mining in the state: Even as Goa’s Padma winners – cartoonist Mario Miranda, writer Ravindra Kelekar, musician Remo Fernandes etc – united and signed a petition against excessive mining in the state in April, about 8-10 new groups from across the mining belts have come up in the last three years. Salgaocar is scathing, “Mining is not supported by the Goan population. Tell me which activity is supported by the Goan people? Activism is justified but it differs from case to case. Can those who oppose mining provide employment to those who are working in mining? Unscrupulous operators should be stopped. You can’t paint everyone with the same brush.”
But for these people at the forefront, it has been a rough ride.
· Sebastian Rodrigues: Blogger-activist and coordinator of GAKUVED’s (Gawada, Kunbi, Velip & Dhangar Federation) Mand was arrested in 2008 for protesting against mining. Allegedly beaten up by local mining mafia. Branded a Naxalite by local political parties.
· Theatre person Hartman D’souza’s sister Cheryl D'Souza, their daughter and her mother were arrested because they refused to be compensated for their farmlands to allow mining in the area. The family chained themselves to the trucks with support from other activists. Protests turned ugly when the local mafia beat them up, destroyed their cameras and the police watched. They were later arrested.
· Rama Velip: In 1993, Rama and his father, whose home and paddy are on a mining lease, fought in the court and got an illegal mine closed, “The miners were selling the fertile soil from our village to another,” he says. Father and son were arrested and put in jail; the case went on for 3 years. They reached a compromise, when his father demanded that the village soil be retained.
Q&A with P.K. Mukherjee, Managing Director, Sesa Goa
Shalini Singh
In the state assembly in March, Rs 2798 crore was quoted as Sesa Goa's net profit – a figure higher than the entire state revenue.
Well, in 2008-09, we made a profit of over Rs 2000 crore before tax. I don’t see how the profit a company makes is relevant in this case. Probably the contention is how much is going back to the people. I don’t want to get into controversy, so let the figure and context remain.
If another 100 mining leases (in addition to the 110 already in operation) are given permission, how do you read the effect on Goa's economy and impact on its environment?
It’s not a question of number of leases; it’s about how many people who have credentials to do this work – then the impact would be different. You have to look at things like production, acreage etc. Mining leases in Goa are fragmented; it depends on the size, volume, pressure on existing infrastructure… the environmental clearance considers aspects like water, which land can be used for dumping rejects etc. The laws are strong, now they should be firmly imposed.
Why has there been a sharp rise in voices against mining in the state in recent years?
Basically the voices are coming for iron-ore, the limelight commodity now. It’s an abnormal profit situation, so it becomes tough to control the fall out which are unscrupulous people coming in. India has seen a number of national and international NGOs come in. Without getting into their merits or demerits, their only business is activism.
There have been various instances of illegal mining in Goa, one of the top mining companies has said that even legal lease-holders flout necessary conditions.
Illegalities have to be dealt with an iron hand. Leaseholders are legal; their leases are given environmental approval. There’s no point shouting to enforce the law, punishment must be given. Our civil and criminal courts are good.
Sesa Goa was named by the state's environment minister in the assembly last week as one of the 85 out of 99 companies that are operating without air pollution clearance.
Every lease has a pollution clearance given by the state pollution board under the air and water act every 2-3 years. We’ve applied for our renewal but it hasn’t yet come officially. If it’s not rejected or given a show cause notice, it’s deemed as renewal. If we don’t have clearance yet, we don’t have rejection either.
Devastation caused by mining – illegal or otherwise – in the state
Down south
Domane D’souza, 38, who lives with her family of eight (including four children) in Bandhara, Colamb, says the dust pollution has led to the kids developing asthma, sore throats and frequent colds in the last 4-5 years. Dr A. Prabhudesai, a resident doctor of the village, says he sees an average of 2-4 children a day with respiratory complaints. “There’s a condition called pneumoconiosis in which insoluble dust settles in the lungs. These problems would be common even in a place like Mumbai but here the additional factor is mining dust. Children in the village are particularly susceptible to it.”
Then there are other issues. “Mining has cut the inside forests, getting firewood is a problem. There’s no grass left for cows to graze. Mining agents fight and threaten, give alcohol to villagers… Hardly 6-8 people from the village work in the mines, the rest 30 odd who work in security and operations are from outside,” says D’souza.
Milagrin Antaio, 45, worked in a manganese mine for ten years, earning Rs 10-15/day. He quit six years back when the mine was taken over by one of the biggies and “machines and cheaper labour from Karnataka” were brought in. “Now even workers from Jharkhand have come here after everything of theirs has been destroyed,” he says.
4x-year-old Rama Veilip, who has been on the forefront of opposing illegal mining in that area, says 1510 is a figure he’ll not forget – out of Colamb’s total area of 1929 hectares, 1510 hectares is under mining. It’s also the year that the Portuguese came to India. He says that mining has led to widespread deforestation, “hence rainwater can’t be held. From 350-inches of rainfall a decade back, we get barely 100 inches now. Last June there was no water. If there are no trees, where will we go for cover? Around 30 ha of forest have been cut between 2006-2010. Tigers have disappeared. The mines have gone in too deep, we don’t get drinking water. If there’s no water, there’s nothing.”
Nearly 80 families live around these mines, the closest ones are the worst affected. Four families were shifted last year wherein compensation between Rs 2 and 7 lakh was given. “Now to take the people into confidence, miners have spent a crore on concretising the laterite Shantadurga temple of the village,” says Velip. “Besides that, they have been giving free umbrellas, bags, books etc to children, while people are eating mining dust, drinking polluted water.”
UK-based Goan and anti-mining activist Carmen Miranda says Colamb is an area where there seems to be manipulations to usurp land from local farmers and government forests for mining. “But because it is far out, the locals feel they are fighting a losing battle against advancing mining projects.”
Up north
For about 37-odd families in Bandwada, Pissurlem of north Goa’s Satari taluka this is the last season of their ancestral address. Come May 2010, and they will move to Shantinagar. Their old homes stand on the land that needs to be mined for more ore. This village, where 4000 people are dependent on 80 acres of land for their livelihood, is surrounded by a mining belt where mining has been going on for many years.
Erstwhile farmer Gurudas Lakshman Gawde, 45, who has been operating a seasonal tea stall (November – May) since the last 3 years near one of the mines, is one of the future residents. He has been given Rs 6 lakh. “I was born and brought up in this area but will have to move since everyone else is going too. Here, my paddy work stopped almost ten years back when the springs started drying up. It’s not the same with a tea-stall,” he says. Moving homes is not new to this village. Sitarama Savaikar, 60, is also moving with her family this May. Her son, a subcontractor in one of the mines, says cracks have developed in the ground where they lived earlier. “Land slide can happen anytime plus mining is expanding in this area since there’s ore beneath this village.”
Harish D. Rajani, spokesperson for Damodar Mangalji, the mine company that’s shifting the families, was first reluctant to speak on the issue since they didn’t want “publicity” for their “effort”. Later he said it was their “duty” to do this, and on the issue of people losing their traditional occupation – agriculture – he claimed that every villager there had a job in the mining companies. “We have the required clearances and have spent many crore rupees on building parapet walls and other things.”
Besides agriculture, dairy farming here has taken a hit too. The Jogeshwari Doodhutpadak Sanstha shut down eight years ago. Tarabai Abasaheb Desai, 55, has 10 cows today from 40 ten years back. “The yield has gone from 25 litres to 2 litres. Grass, fodder and water for the cattle have lessened. We had a spring near our house, which has dried up. Now we get a tanker to supply water,” she says.
Hanumant Parab, a long-standing activist, reminisces about the dried up Pandikatchi talli, a water body in the area that used to irrigate 80 acres of land till a decade back. “It’s choked with mining silt. Most springs in the area have dried up. Scientifically one can’t generate destroyed village resources. Cashew, acacia and coconut trees have been cut down. All mining rejects are dumped on a hill owned by the government. The ideal height for it should be 60 metres but it goes up to 150-200 metres. Vaghure village, known for its tigers, has seen them disappear once the blasting started.”
A drive through the village and you can see it. Deeply sliced hill slopes, ore/dump-laden trucks roughly whirring past every few minutes, trees and plants bowed under dry red dust, faded blue water drums in place of wells, which have dried up…
Parab says, “Old mines have already destroyed the village. New ones will let it exist only on the map now. For a three km radius mine, the impact is up to five km. We even had a mining induced flood in 2000. We don’t want new mining, others benefit, but the village loses. What is the solution for the village after 15 years when the ore is finished?”
The first picture is of clothes and sleepers of those who were cutting these Mangroves in Panchwadi, Ponda when the villagers and Forest Department raided the spot. The culprits ran away leaving these belongings on the spot on July 14, 2010.
The pieces of cut mangroves left behind by the culprits has been taken in possession by Forest department.
The remaining pictures are of mangroves destruction caused by these culprits at the instance of Sesa Goa mining company owned by Vedanta.
These are dense Mangroves in Panchwadi, Ponda, Goa that Vedanta owned Sesa Goa mining company is attempting to cut down and construct loading point for iron ore. Cutting down of Mangroves are banned as per Indian law. Company influenced scientist Arvind Untawale, former director of National Institute of Oceanography to write a report that Mangroves does not exist here!
According to the reports just coming in Vedanta's have deployed goons to cut the fragile mangrove forest on the Zuari river banks to put up the loading point for its company Sesa Goa. Villagers of Panchwadi has challenged the goons on site and forced them to stop deforestation and flee from the site.
Situation has remained tense in the area and police as well as villagers are out on the streets. Villagers are demanding that the mining company's goons responsible for forcible cutting down of mangrove forest be arrested with immediate. Police are yet to effect any arrests of the mining goons so far. Main road stands blocked.
Sesa Goa is tryi9ng to set up loading points for the iron ore for the purpose of loading of ore into barges to ship towards Marmagoa Port to export. Panchwadi Bachao Samiti had already filed its objection to this proposal more than a month ago. Here is a copy of the letter:
PANCHAWADI BACHAO SAMITI
c/o Christev D'Costa (Ex-Sarpanch),
Vizor, Panchawadi,
Ponda Taluka, Goa
Date: 7th June 2010
To
The Member Secretary,
Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority,
Opp. Saligao Seminary, P.O. Saligao,
Bardez, Goa
SUB: Objection to Proposed Riverside Terminal for “stocking/loading” of mineral ore at Panchwadi village, Ponda Taluka by M/S. Sesa Goa Ltd. – Panchwadi Bunder Project (GCZMA/N/193)
REF:(1) Our letter to you dated 2nd March 2010
Dear Sir,
This is further to our above referred letter, to which we are yet to receive a reply.
We are in possession of documents related to the subject project, which have been collected from your office by Shri Abhijit Prabhudesai under the RTI Act, 2005. Based on these documents and the CRZ Notification, 1991 (as amended till date), the following facts are brought to your attention:
That the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority gave clearance to the said project vide letter ref. no. GCZMA/N/193/301 dated 09/01/2003, more than 7 years ago.
2.That section 3., sub-section (2), (ia) of the CRZ Notification, 1991 (as amended till date) states as follows – “The clearance granted shall be valid for a period of 5 years for the commencement of the construction or operation.”
3.That the third paragraph of section 2., sub-section III, (c) of the EIA Notification, 1994 (as amended till date) states as follows – “The clearance granted shall be valid for a period of 5 years for the commencement of the construction or operation of the project.”
4.That no construction or mobilization has commenced for the said project till date.
5.That as per page no. C/36 of the subject file, Shri A. G. Untawale has committed gross and blatant misuse of his powers by falsifying the records of his observations made during the site visit to the Proposed Riverside Terminal, conducted on 11th and 12th October 2002. The entire 35 Has. area of the said site is covered with fully grown mangroves of many diverse species, some of which are unique to this region and not found in other parts of Goa, making this area one of the best and most diverse mangrove forests along the Zuari River. However, Mr. Untawale’s report attempts to misguide the State into believing that the mangroves at the site are inconsequential and dispensible. It is further observed that the document has the names of both Dr. Claude Alvares and Mr. A. G. Untawale, yet only Mr. Untawale has signed on it. It is understood from Dr. Claude Alvares that he refused to sign the Site Report prepared by Mr. Untawale for the same reason.
From paragraphs 1 to 4 above it is abundantly clear that the clearance issued by your office for the subject project is no longer valid.
In view of the above, we request you as follows:
Kindly respond to our above referred letter at the earliest. In particular, please confirm that the clearance given to the said project vide letter ref. no. GCZMA/N/193/301 dated 09/01/2003, more than 7 years ago, is no longer valid.
Immediately take necessary steps to identify all the mangroves along the River Zuari, with prior intimation to us.
Any application for CRZ clearances in the village of Panchwadi to be copied to us for our information before being processed.
NETHERLANDS – Asset manager PGGM has withdrawn its investments in Indian mining company Vedanta Resources for "persistently ignoring" the environment and human rights. Despite a two-year dialogue concerning Vedanta's mining activities in the state of Orissa, the company made no concrete improvements, PGGM said.
The asset manager said Vedanta's lack of improvement and refusal to co-operate on environmental and human rights issues had increasingly put the company's reputation at risk, which, PGGM felt, had translated into a financial risk.
PGGM, which manages the €91bn healthcare scheme PFZW, said it had exchanged letters and held numerous talks with the company over the last two years. It also aimed to step up pressure on Vedanta by involving a number of international institutional investors in talks.
But PGGM said Vedanta declined to participate in a roundtable meeting with experts – initiated by the group of investors – to discuss possible solutions for problems in Orissa. Consequently, PGGM has disinvested its €13m stake in the company, including Vedanta's subsidiaries Sterlite Industries, Hindustan Zinc and Sesa Goa.
In a significant decision, the National Environment Appellate Authorityon 10-05-2010 has stayed the Environmental Clearance granted to the mine ofMs Sesa Goa ( a Vedanta owned company) located atVillage Pirna and Nadora in Bardez Taluk, North Goa. The project was granted environmental clearance by the Ministry of Environment and Forest on 09-06.2009 and was challenged before the National Environment Appellate Authority, New Delhi by a local group called Pirna Naroda Nagrik Kruti Samiti.The main ground for challenge was that at the Public hearing held for the project,there was 100 % opposition on behalf of the local people to the mining project. Yet the Expert Appraisal Committee decided to overlook the opposition and in a mechanical fashion recommended for grant of environmental clearance. The minutes of the EAC meeting did not reveal that the EAC even bothered to look at the minutes of the Public Hearing. Further, the EAC at the time was headed by one M.L Majumdar who himself was on the board of four mining companies and therefore the decision was biased has held by the Delhi High Court in the case of Uttakarsh Mandal Vs Ministry of Environment and Forests
SESA Goa however took the stand that 53 people supported the project. The NEAA however did not accept this contention since none of the 53 persons supporting the project were present at the Public Hearing.
The NEAA in its order directed that he Ministry of Environment and Forest should constitute a sub committee of the EAC to visit the area and examine the reasons for the opposition to the mining and reexamine its impact on agriculture horticulture, school children, health, habitation, river and ground water etc and also in the light of the fact that the Ministry of Environment has imposed a moratorium on mining in Goa. The NEAA further directed that the Committee should have three environment experts and one mining expert and advance intimation be given to the persons of the area who opposed the project.
The NEAA directed that the Environmental Clearance granted should be held in abeyance until further orders.
SUB: UNLAWFUL CONDUCT OF PROCEEDINGS AT PANCHAWADI GRAM SABHA ON 7/2/2010
Dear Sir
Further to our conversation with you at around 5 PM on 7/2/2010 in the aftermath of the Gram Sabha fiasco, we hope that you shall deliver quick justice in our case.
The events of the Gram Sabha of V.P. Panchawadi held on 7/2/2010 are correctly recorded as follows:
The Gram Sabha commenced at 10.40 AM on 7/2/2010. It was chaired by the Dy. Sarpanch in the absence of the Sarpanch.
The attendance register was taken around to record the names of the attendees from 10.40 AM to 1.10 PM.
The first item on the agenda, confirmation of the minutes of the previous Gram Sabha Meeting held on 22/11/2009, was taken up first.
a.In item no. 3, name of Mr. Manuel D'Costa as proposer wasdeleted and Mr. Dilip Gaonkar the Panch was added in his place, since the letter from Sesa Goa was an internal correspondence of the Panchayat. However, the Secretary did not enter the same in the minutes register, in spite of requests.
b.In item no. 4, the person recorded to have proposed the said resolution, clarified that there was no separate issue and that his submissions were with regard to item no. 3 only, and not recorded correctly. Hence it was decided that the said item no. 4 is canceled. However, the Secretary did not enter the same in the minutes register, in spite of requests.
c.The last two lines of the unnumbered resolution were pointed out to be incorrect by the majority of the Gram Sabha members present. It was pointed out that when the mike had been snatched during discussions over the said proposal, the Sarpanch had fainted and the Gram Sabha Meeting of 22/11/2009 ended amidst chaos. The Dy. Sarpanch had then declared that the meeting was adjourned and that the further date would be announced after the next monthly meeting of the Panchayat body. The Dy. Sarpanch and Secretary were questioned on how the records were blatantly falsified, but they had no answers and yet refused to correct the same. This refusal of the Secretary under the instructions of the Dy. Sarpanch amounts to usurping the powers of the Gram Sabha in a most blatant manner. The meeting was thereafter held up in discussion on the same issue for almost half an hour.
At this point, the Dy. Sarpanch abruptly took up the fifth item on the agenda without concluding the first, or even considering the second, third and fourth items. This actitself shows the Dy. Sarpanch's bias and intentions, which are confirmed by the pre-determined course of action that was to follow.
Without any deliberations on the issue contained in the fifth item, the Dy. Sarpanch asked the persons supporting the proposal for mining roads to raise their hands. Only about 40 persons raised their hands in support of the project and the rest of the attendees forming an overwhelming majority opposed the same. Thereupon, the Sarpanch stated that since the Gram Sabha members are not co-operating, he is entitled to decide the issue and said “resolutionpassed”. This is gross misuse of power by the Dy. Sarpanch in concert with the Secretary and is also unlawful under the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994.
After stating “resolution passed”, the Dy. Sarpanch accompanied by the other two Panchas, the BDO observer and the Secretary (carrying the minutes register) fled from the venue before the people could respond.
We therefore demand as follows:
The resolutions taken on the issue of mining roads during the Gram Sabhas of 22/11/2009 and 7/2/2010 to be declared null and void.
The Secretary of V.P. Panchawadi to be suspended with immediate effect for his involvement in the conspiracy to defraud the Panchayat Raj institutions and misuse of powers.
The Dy. Sarpanch to be disqualified for gross misuse of power, fraud and misrepresentation.
Overwhelming opposition to the proposed mining roads dominated the Gram Sabha Meeting held on 7/2/2010 at Panchawadi, which eventually ended at 4 PM in chaos and confusion, yet again. Over 400 persons opposed the proposal by Sesa Goa to use Panchawadi for mining activities, completely outnumbering the handful of supporters of the Sesa proposal. However, the Dy. Sarpanch, who was chairing the meeting in the absence of the Sarpanch, and the Secretary continued to use illegitimate means to further the aims of Sesa by refusing to allow a hand vote to prove the majority.
The first two and a half hours of the grueling meeting were consumed in taking signatures of the attendees. The meeting then commenced with reading of the previous Gram Sabha Meeting minutes which went on for another 3 hours without conclusion. The Dy. Sarpanch and Secretary were grilled by the Gram Sabha members for falsifying the minutes, to which questions they could not offer any replies. Frustrated with the impasse, the people asked the Dy. Sarpanch to decide the issue with a hand vote. When the Dy. Sarpanch asked the supporters of the Sesa plan to raise their hands only a dozen persons lifted their hands. Overjoyed with their victory, the villagers next asked the Sarpanch to count the number of members opposing the said project. The Sarpanch refused to allow the hand vote in spite of persistent demands from the Gram Sabha members. As the Gram Sabha members mounted pressure for the hand vote, the Sarpanch abruptly stated that since the Gram Sabha members were not co-operating, he had adopted a resolution approving the Sesa proposal. After making this statement, the Sarpanch, Secretary, BDO observer and the few supporters of the mining company abruptly and hurriedly left the venue under the protection of the large police posse. The majority of the villagers were left shocked and agitated by the unlawful act of the Sarpanch followed by his sudden disappearance, an obvious plan to undermine the Gram Sabha. This was followed by intense protests by the angry villagers who even blocked the Shiroda-Sanvordem road for over one hour, during which period some persons damaged the Panchayat building. The villagers have pointed out that not a single policeman attempted to stop the breakage and allege that the damage to the public property was a pre-planned move by the supporters of the mining company.
The Panchayat authorities finally arrived at the scene only at about 5.15 PM and assured the villagers that their grievances would be resolved immediately, which assurances have been taken by the villagers with more than a pinch of suspicion.
Goa is mostly known for being a top tourist destination, but away from the coast mining is the major industry, and it is severely impacting local water. Click here for video.
Forest Tribes Lose Rights
For video on takeover of tribal forest spaces by the Indian Forest Department click the links here.
