Click here to read interview with Carmen Miranda on Goa mining.
Showing posts with label media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label media. Show all posts
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
'Springs, fields will die if Chiunim Dongor is mined'
Joaquim Fernandes, TNN, May 20, 2010, 03.39am IST. Times of India
PANAJI: The famous Taka-zhor spring and numerous other perennial water
sources of Chiunim Dongor in Rivona, Sanguem, will dry up, destroying
the orchards, agricultural fields and livelihoods of farmers if mining
is allowed on Chiunim Dongor.
This worry haunts the farming families living in and around Chiunim
Dongor. A mining company has sought to renew mining for iron and
manganese ore on the hill where mining has been dormant for the last
35 years.
The company has also prepared a "rapid environment impact assessment
(EIA) and environmental management plan" for TC number 35 of 1951, an
area totalling 79.9350 ha. The farming community of Rivona and even
the village panchayat are strongly opposed to mining on Chiunim
Dongor. In November 2009, the Rivona village panchayat unanimously
resolved that permission for renewal of lease and environmental
clearance should not be given to the proposed mining project on
Chiunim Dongor.
In its letter dated November 2, 2009 to the Goa State Pollution
Control Board (GSPCB), Rivona panchayat countered the EIA for Chiunim
Dongor stating that the claim made by the project report about
"non-existence of perennial water sources in or adjacent to mine area
is baseless". Insisting that there are "more than 20 rich perennial
water bodies" and springs, the panchayat stated "the main paddy fields
of village Rivona, namely Gaiginim, Beleshet and Deo Shetod, plus
several arecanut and coconut orchards are fed by these water sources.
These water bodies and the connected ecosystems and agriculture will
get (sic) irreversible damage and will become extinct if the mine
becomes operational".
The Rivona-based Rushivan Shetkari Sanghatana has also slammed the EIA
study as "full of blatant lies and is totally fabricated to project
our village as a backward area". The organization claims "Rivona VP is
one of the most progressive panchayats with 800 landline connections,
15 broadband connections, 3,000 satellite TV connections, 5 banks, 5
cooperative societies, over 100 self-help groups, a farmers’ club, 20
educational institutions, 3,000 pucca houses and (is) a pride of Goa
due to its agricultural richness, pristine and natural beauty."
It further states that the project site is at the topmost point of the
village and the hill is the source of six big and totally 18-20
springs including Taka-zhor.
"These springs are the only source of potable water for the entire
population in the mining lease area and adjoining areas and also
irrigate a vast span of paddy fields, orchards, plantations spread on
all the four sides of this hill encompassing an area of hundreds of
acres of the main wards of Rivona village and on the other side of the
major portion of Molcornem village," the farmer’s collective states.
The sanghatana fears that if the mines become operational, all the
streams originating from the hills will become extinct within a year
or two, "thus destroying hundreds of acres of paddy fields and
orchards and the people entirely dependent on these fields for their
livelihood will be made to starve".
Farmers also fear that mining will affect several ancient monuments of
archaeological importance in and around the mining lease area,
especially the "Vishnudevali" dating back to the 12 th century which
is in the centre of the lease. Mining will also destroy all the houses
lying in the core area rendering the poor scheduled tribe people
homeless, the sanghatana states.
The farmers are strongly supported by the
marketing board, which has urged the GSPCB not to grant any
environmental clearance to mining on Chiunim Dongor. In a November
2009 letter to the GSPCB, the agriculture marketing board wrote,
"Mining activity in
horticulture and agriculture commodities. Employment generation due to
mining is of temporary nature and destroys infrastructure of
agri-horticulture industry. Natural resources are destroyed in due
course of time. Mining activity leaves behind huge quantities of
rejection, spreading debris in forest areas, pasture lands and
nullahs. Talukas of Bicholim, Sanguem and a part of Quepem are live
examples of this pollution. Besides people are affected on health
grounds."
On April 24, this year, in the middle of
water shortage across the state is severe, Takazhor flowed vigorously
as picnickers frolicked under its refreshing waters. The spring gushed
down the valley, home to lush green plantations of coconut, areca nut,
pepper and a sprinkling of banana and jackfruit. On the other side of
the ridge of the hill, other plantations flourish, nourished by more
natural water springs there. All springs run down to nurture the paddy
fields below in Rivona village.
Nature’s bounty of Chiunim Dongor is now under threat, local farmers
fear. If mining is allowed there, based on "false claims" in the EIA
report, then not only their livelihoods will be at risk, the ancient,
natural glory of Chiunim Dongor that has long drawn tourists to its
spring will be destroyed, they say. The EIA report was done by a
consultant appointed by the company interested in the mining lease.
Pandurang Patil, Rivona agriculturist and member of the sanghatana,
lives on the slope of Chiunim Dongor. He points to other "blunders" in
the EIA study prepared "by somebody sitting in
checking facts in
and poverty-ridden area which their mining will uplift. The EIA study
is done by the project proponent, naturally he does it as per his
convenience. Sadly, the government does not verify the claims made in
the study, leaving us to fend for ourselves," Patil says.
GSPCB chairperson Simon de Souza confirmed that the EIA studies
submitted by mining companies are not verified by the board. "EIA
reports are not for our comment. We simply forward the report to the
MoEF in
whether claims made in the report are correct or not," De Souza said.
He added that the chief minister had recently made a representation to
the MoEF demanding that the GSPCB be given the right to give its say
on the EIA studies of the mining companies.
Meanwhile, Patil cites the forms I and XIV of the survey numbers on
Chiunim Dongor, states that of the 17.25 lakh square metres area of
the hill, 16.98 lakh square metres is cultivated. "This is 98.45% of
the total area. Why do you want to finish all this agricultural area?"
asks Patil. He says public hearings are a farce.
Mining companies do not allow citizens to get their arguments recorded
by getting paid goons who create chaos during the hearings. Patil
recalls an incident when the
had to adjourn a hearing citing "threat to limb and life".
Ashish Prabhudessai, Patil’s neighbour and another prominent
agriculturist in Rivona agrees. "Public hearings are very
disorganized, farcical and intimidating to many of our farmers, who
are mostly illiterate," he says.
High up on Chiunim Dongor, Patil points to its steep slopes. Citing
the EIA study figures, he says 52,000 truckloads of rejects will be
dumped on the hill slope in the first year. "This will run down the
steep slope and silt our water bodies, our paddy fields and make our
fields uncultivable," says Patil.
This has already happened in other areas of Rivona. Ashish’s family
owns plantations of coconut, areca nut, cashew, jackfruit, mango and
pepper in Rivona. His 80-acre farm near Pandav Soddo, on the banks of
the river Khushawati is suffering. Says Ashish, "The river has silted
in the last few years due to mining and the water level has dropped by
50%. The quality and quantity of our coconuts has fallen. Also,
monkeys and wild boar displaced by mining in the forests are invading
our farms."
He cites the agricultural woes of Shivsorem, another Rivona hamlet,
which according to him was a “vegetable haven". Says Ashish, "About
five mines have started there now. The yield of the coconut trees has
fallen despite being well fertilized as the trees are "scared" of the
mines. It is just like feeding a goat well but tying her next to the
lion."
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Kudtadu Sahyadriche Kade
This is a cover story titled "Kudtadu Sahyadriche Kade" in Marathi weekly - Lokprabha, 21 May 2010 - on Goa's mining woes and struggle written by Anuja Chawathe. It is published from Mumbai. Please click the links below:
http://www.loksatta.com/lokprabha/20100521/cover.htm
http://www.loksatta.com/lokprabha/20100521/cover.htm
Ek Hoth Asniye
This is a story in Marathi weekly Lokprabha 21 May 2010, Mumbai by Reshma Jathar deals with struggle against mining in Konkan region of western India. Please click the links below to read:
http://www.loksatta.com/lokprabha/20100521/paryavaran.htm
http://www.loksatta.com/lokprabha/20100521/paryavaran.htm
Mining companies can't get everything for free: Handique
Bijoy Krishna Handique, 75, is a cabinet minister in the ministry of mines and ministry of development of North Eastern Region (India). He took over in May 2009. Last year, he introduced the ad valorem royalty on mining, which nearly doubled the state governments' earning from mining. After the Reddy brothers scam, 18 mining licenses were cancelled in Bellary last week. He was unwell owing to a lung infection, but took out time to speak to HT. Union Minister for Mines, Bijoy Krishna Handique, speaks to HT Corespondent Shalini Singh.
A new mines and minerals bill of the ministry, believed to be opposed by the mining lobby, seeks to give 26 per cent of profits from mining to locals and also to make them stakeholders. How will they be identified? How will the same be disbursed?
We are going to make annuity a part of the new law. You see we have deprived people of their land and so many things. They should get something for that. Annuity has been found attractive, and it appears to do justice. We want that kind of justice that works for local people. The law will have all these details, which are being worked out in near course of time. We're going to find out the areas where people are going to mine and find out what kind of agitation, cultivation etc is going on. There will be a system in place for everything. We are deeply interested in the welfare of the host population.
Why did the govt take so long to implement the 10% royalty rule replacing the fixed levy per tonne? How was the 10% level fixed?
We are going to change the law, but somewhere the matter is getting stuck. The law ministry has to also find time for this. We met 2-3 days back and we'll decide finally what all has to be a part of the new law. Till you have a new law, you can't accommodate all these archaic things. You must take the right things. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 is an archaic law. There are certain things within that which are contradictory to each other. We want there should be a new law, new thinking, which is most important. There should be new thinking for the people, for the local host population and for their benefit.
The draft policy mentions that special care will be taken of the hosts and tribal population, and that project-affected people will be protected through certain packages. Please elaborate.
That has to be done. The packages have to be there. This annuity has been our suggestion. There are some people who may not like it so much but we are committed to this.
Is it the mining companies who don't like this?
Money has to be given by the mining companies. They cannot get everything free. Many of them don't like the aspects of annuity etc. but you're taking their property for good and you won't give them anything? The naxals have started talking about this. People have to be given justice, you can't keep everything to yourself and give them nothing.
Are we looking at a more people oriented mining policy?
Yes, exactly. It will be oriented towards development, towards common people on whose land they make their property. Mind that, it's on their land. Ultimately, they are not getting anything. No one is going to accept that. Now things are becoming different. even foreign countries like Canada and Australia are conscious about doing justice to the people. This is nature, you don't have a right to ravage the nature. Who will repair it? It's compulsory for the mining companies to repair nature. A sustainable development framework has been included in the new draft act; this was not there in the old act...
Are we redefining development as far as mining is concerned?
Yes, in the new act we have decided to do things in a committed way. Top priority is justice to the people.
In other countries, there are separate companies for prospecting and mining. In India, they are the same. Are we looking at a new way in which mining licenses will be given now?
No, licenses will be as they are. We want development to be seamless. Every time a mining company can't come and waste their money - the rights to the next stage must be automatic. There should be no second thoughts on that. It was because of this that foreign companies didn't want to come to India. They didn't accept the policy formulated in 2008. I happened to be the minister of state for mines then. I have also seen that people did come from different countries and said that we have got a promise from your country that justice will be given to the people.
There is no unified procedure currently to get environmental clearances for mining. Are we looking at a greater synchronisation between the environment and mines ministry in the future?
Yes, there will be greater synchronisation between the two. Once we correct things in the old act, which is very old, we'll start with new act. We have decided to go in for a new act instead of an amendment to the old one. There has to be new legislation.
Why did you feel the need for a new act?
Things must b understood in their context. Transparency is an important aspect. We want foreign companies to invest in India through foreign direct investment (FDI). If they are not convinced that we are transparent why should they come? Their message is clear, you change your policy or we don't come. FDI is big money, unless you have big money, there can't be new technology. And we want new technology. With new technology, we can bring improvement.
Land acquisition is the biggest issue today as far as mining is concerned. Tribals are opposing mining. This would scare away foreign investors. How is the ministry looking at these aspects?
So far the investors haven't shown any worry. This company from South Korea - Posco has been fighting back since 4-5 years. They still say they are hopeful and that it's important to take the local population into confidence. Land acquisition has been going on for 4-5 years now. If people are convinced this is going to benefit them then what the mining companies are doing in 4-5 years, they can finish in one year. These companies are paying off in informal/illegal ways to naxals etc, all this will come down. Day to day operations will come down. People will not want to disturb the mining activity. Posco believes that people are on our side but if you want to loot them, you don't want to give them annuity, they'll say what right you have to take what's ours? If local people sense your commitment, why should they go against the mining management?
How is the ministry looking at illegal mining?
Illegal mining is a great problem. It's very difficult to tackle. So far, all the mines belong to the states and that's the cause of everything. The actual rights go to the state. All approvals are given by state governments to mining companies. We have signed some MoUs with Nambia and they say they have the same problems of illegal mining -- people have been exploited etc. We are trying to find ways to deal with it.
What is your take on the recent mining scams -- Reddy brothers in Karnataka, Madhu Koda etc?
Karnataka has huge report of illegal mining. Whether we make a new law or not, illegality of mining has to be somehow tackled if you want peace and harmony in this society. That's the only civilised way.
What are some of the immediate steps? How does one prevent scams?
The Indian Bureau of Mines has undertaken inspections. In the new act, there will be provisions to contain illegal mining. In this, individuals and society as whole can file reports against illegal mining. As of now only state government representatives can file complaints. The new act will help us do that. State governments are lessers n lessees, one couldn't do much. Now we have had IBM going that extra step this time -- they have identified 120 illegal mines and suspended several.
Goa doesn't figure in that list, though there have been several cases of illegal mining?
Goa is a high profile state. In Orissa mining may be going on in 80 percent of the places, but it's not reported, so there's not much reaction. Goa has high density of population, high literacy, even a little problem comes into the media.
Illegal is when they extract where they don't have licenses or permissions. Goa mostly has pollution problems and pollution won't be reported in illegal mining. I'm proud of my ministry having got this new scheme to detect illegal mining -- remote sensing agency. People should know what we are doing. If people think everyone is indulging in illegal mining, they will lose faith in the system, in us.
What has been the mining industry's response to the new act?
It has been mixed. They are happy with the seamless transition from reconnaissance to prospecting to mining lease. Secondly, the transferability of tenement. They can sell their lease now not like presently where someone else is mining in someone else's name. Responsibility will be there. You can transfer your lease officially you're your home or property. Thirdly, we are establishing tribunals. If you filed an application before the state government and they are sitting on it for years, after two months only you can go to tribunal which will dispose off cases. The companies are slightly upset because no business person wants to commit to things like annuity, compensation, CSR etc.
What does the ministry mean by sustainable mining? How will it be implemented?
Sustainable development framework will have three components. One, social sustainability benefits to people directly. Two, environmental sustainability and three, sustainability in economic activity of mining. We want zero waste mining. Whatever you're taking from mother earth, you should not waste in the process. Put the latest technology/machinery and also plan in such a way that recovery is maximum, it shouldn't be that whatever minerals are there you finish them in 30 years and then look to import them. A system will be in place, the ministry has engaged a consultant where the world's best standards practices in sustainable development in mining, whatever is relevant to India will be taken. Sustainable development has to be part of the mining plan. Any kind of violation of social sustainability will lead to automatic cancellation of the lease. IBM has cancelled 40 licenses in last 6 months. State governments are not doing many things, so IBM has been directed to do this. As many as 18 mines in Bellary were cancelled a week back.
What are the figures for state and centre from mining?
Mines and minerals are the states' wealth, which get royalty from it. Earlier it was Rs 2,000 crore per year for all the states. We introduced the ad valorem royalty, in which it increased to Rs 4000 crores and now this will further increase. Goa saw an increase of nearly 300 crores and for a small state like that, they were happy. Earlier only mining companies benefited, now it must benefit everyone.
Mine or yours?
An article in Hindustan Times today quotes Goa's leader of the opposition Manohar Parrikar critical of Goa's mining industry. Here is a direct link below:
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/ArticleImage.aspx?article=16_05_2010_014_002&mode=1
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/ArticleImage.aspx?article=16_05_2010_014_002&mode=1
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Bishop: Stop plunder of natural resources
Gomantak Times, December 30, 2009, Panaji
By staff reporter
Panjim: Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao yesterday dealt body blow to those responsible for what he called “plundering of natural resources”, but let MLAs and cabinet ministers off with a light rap on the knuckles.
Speaking at the annual Christmas gathering held at the Archbishop’s Palace, Rev Ferrao said, “In our day, there is a growing awareness that world peace is threatened not only by the arms race, regional conflicts and continued injustices amongst peoples and nations, but also by a lack of due respect for nature, by plundering of natural resources.”
The speech of the Archbishop, widely regarded as a pointer to the ills that plague the State, was listened to with rapt attention by Governor SS Sidhu, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Leaader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, Power Minister Aleixo Sequira, Revenue Minister Jose Philip, Water Resources Minister Felipe Neri Rodrigues, Urban Development Minister Joaqium Alemao, Home Minister Ravi Naik, Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board Dr. Wilfred de Souza, industrialist Srinivas Dempo, judges, bureaucrats and members of the community.
The Archbishop went straight to the heart of the matter and in less than a minute it was clear that his focus this year was on the environment, specifically the uncontrolled mining of iron ore.
Presently, over 300 applications for renewal of existing mining leases or fresh ones are pending before the Mining Department. Besides, the government has proved to be powerless in curbing illegal mining.
As we care for creation, we realize that God, through creation, cares for us. Unfortunately, this reciprocity was not always observed,” he read from a printed version, which is usually the norm on this occasion.
“It (creation) has indeed been continuously marred by neglect – if not downright misuse – of the natural goods that God has given humankind,” he emphasized.
This year, political leaders were spared the embarrassment of being blamed for environmental degradation with Archbishop acknowledging that they are seized with the problem, but emphasized that more needs to be done.
We see our legislators and politicians sometimes giving an ear to the aspirations of the people, as platforms are offered to make their voices heard. We also see them paying attention to the ecological balance and sustainable development which this land is so much in need of….but we know that this is not enough,” he said.
Speaking out his mind and virtually setting the agenda for the New Year, the Archbishop listed some of the environmental problems facing the State when he said that the dwindling agricultural land, desertification of farming space, erosion of our beaches are some of the ecological problems that merits attention.
While many paint a picture of doom, the Archbishop saw a glimmer of hope. Referring to the recent environment summit at
“Thankfully there is also a common political will to take steps to slow down such degradation,” he added.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Centre decries illegal mining
For over nearly two years now, Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar has been demanding that the Goa government should take action against illegal mining of iron ore. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader has pointed out that close to one-third of the ore exported from Goa is from illegal mines.
But the Goa government has been dragging its feet. It gives assurances in the Legislative Assembly, but takes little concrete action. Issuing show cause notices and stop work orders, the government’s favourite mode of ‘action’, accomplishes little.
What is needed is to seize expensive mining machinery from these illegal mines and to stop export of illegally mined ore. It is only when they are hit where it hurts - in earnings - that illegal miners and exporters of illegally mined ore will think twice about what they are doing.
Now, it is not just the opposition but the central government that has slammed mineral-rich states like Goa for doing little or nothing to contain illegal mining. On Friday, Union Mines Minister Bijoy Krishna Handique firmly told mining secretaries of mineral-rich states to prepare “state-specific action plans within a week”. The minister said his ministry has issued a specific directive to the states to submit reports on this every month.
Mining Secretaries of Goa, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh were present at the meeting. The minister also asked the states to prohibit sale of illegally mined minerals and assured that it will institutionalise mechanisms to keep a close watch on ports and railway sidings. Mr Handique told states that their lackadaisical way of dealing with the problem has led to it assuming endemic proportions.
The union ministry will ask states to monitor the quantum of ore mined and the offtake of the mineral. It wants “intense scrutiny” of iron ore lying at ports and railway sidings, to ascertain whether it was mined in accordance with approved plans. Buyers of ore will have to ensure that their ore is not illegally mined, and will have to produce vouchers showing that royalty has been paid on the ore they purchased. In Goa, nearly all the mined ore is exported. So will exporters have to fulfil the responsibility of buyers too?
Quaintly, in the course of the meeting, the union minister told the state mining secretaries that his ministry would be ready to approach the Union Home Ministry in case any state felt the need for special police forces to crack down on illegal mining. That would be a first, in Goa, where the police forces invariably protect the mine operators - legal or illegal, right or wrong - and crack down on the protesting public.
Editorial in Herald, November 30 2009, Panaji
But the Goa government has been dragging its feet. It gives assurances in the Legislative Assembly, but takes little concrete action. Issuing show cause notices and stop work orders, the government’s favourite mode of ‘action’, accomplishes little.
What is needed is to seize expensive mining machinery from these illegal mines and to stop export of illegally mined ore. It is only when they are hit where it hurts - in earnings - that illegal miners and exporters of illegally mined ore will think twice about what they are doing.
Now, it is not just the opposition but the central government that has slammed mineral-rich states like Goa for doing little or nothing to contain illegal mining. On Friday, Union Mines Minister Bijoy Krishna Handique firmly told mining secretaries of mineral-rich states to prepare “state-specific action plans within a week”. The minister said his ministry has issued a specific directive to the states to submit reports on this every month.
Mining Secretaries of Goa, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh were present at the meeting. The minister also asked the states to prohibit sale of illegally mined minerals and assured that it will institutionalise mechanisms to keep a close watch on ports and railway sidings. Mr Handique told states that their lackadaisical way of dealing with the problem has led to it assuming endemic proportions.
The union ministry will ask states to monitor the quantum of ore mined and the offtake of the mineral. It wants “intense scrutiny” of iron ore lying at ports and railway sidings, to ascertain whether it was mined in accordance with approved plans. Buyers of ore will have to ensure that their ore is not illegally mined, and will have to produce vouchers showing that royalty has been paid on the ore they purchased. In Goa, nearly all the mined ore is exported. So will exporters have to fulfil the responsibility of buyers too?
Quaintly, in the course of the meeting, the union minister told the state mining secretaries that his ministry would be ready to approach the Union Home Ministry in case any state felt the need for special police forces to crack down on illegal mining. That would be a first, in Goa, where the police forces invariably protect the mine operators - legal or illegal, right or wrong - and crack down on the protesting public.
Editorial in Herald, November 30 2009, Panaji
Sunday, September 27, 2009
GOAMAP says police should apologise
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, SEPT 26
The Goa Federation of Mines Affected People (GOAMAP) on Saturday demanded that the police should tender an apology for arresting an anti-mining activist by calling him to the police station under a false pretext.
Motesh Antao of Colamb was arrested in connection with a complaint lodged in November 2008 by an official of a mining company under sections 143, 341, 506 read with 149 of IPC on Friday. Antao said he had gone to pick up some RTI information for which he had made a letter to South Goa Superintendent of Police on August 14.
GOAMAP in a press release signed by its convenor Sebastian Rodrigues stated in case Goa Police failed to tender an apology the organization would be constrained to initiate appropriate constitutional recourse in a befitting manner.
He said in case of Motesh he was arrested by the Quepem police under some criminal case registered against a group of Colomb villagers for blocking mining transportation of the Fomento mining company that was operating the Hiralal Khodidas mining lease.
GOMAP said the Quepem police owed a written apology to Motesh for threatening him for filing an RTI application thus thwarting citizens’ fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under the Indian Constitution.
It stated that the police should give the apology copies to all the print and electronic media in the State by September 27 midnight.
Herald Sunday September 27, 2009 Panaji
PANJIM, SEPT 26
The Goa Federation of Mines Affected People (GOAMAP) on Saturday demanded that the police should tender an apology for arresting an anti-mining activist by calling him to the police station under a false pretext.
Motesh Antao of Colamb was arrested in connection with a complaint lodged in November 2008 by an official of a mining company under sections 143, 341, 506 read with 149 of IPC on Friday. Antao said he had gone to pick up some RTI information for which he had made a letter to South Goa Superintendent of Police on August 14.
GOAMAP in a press release signed by its convenor Sebastian Rodrigues stated in case Goa Police failed to tender an apology the organization would be constrained to initiate appropriate constitutional recourse in a befitting manner.
He said in case of Motesh he was arrested by the Quepem police under some criminal case registered against a group of Colomb villagers for blocking mining transportation of the Fomento mining company that was operating the Hiralal Khodidas mining lease.
GOMAP said the Quepem police owed a written apology to Motesh for threatening him for filing an RTI application thus thwarting citizens’ fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under the Indian Constitution.
It stated that the police should give the apology copies to all the print and electronic media in the State by September 27 midnight.
Herald Sunday September 27, 2009 Panaji
Vendanta’s European financers apprised of mining exploits in Goa
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, SEPT 26
In what could be termed as a new tactic to corner major mining company and counter its claims of “social responsibility” the Goa Federation of Mines Affected People (GOAMAP) presented a paper on mining exploits of Vendanta before its nine bankers in London.
Vedanta operates in the State, Sesa Goa and Dempo mines which it acquired earlier this year.It was a conference of bankers that finances Vendanta where various NGOs, lawyers, social activists presented well-researched works on mining operations of Vendanta group wherever it has mining stakes in the world.
The GOAMAP was represented by H Bedi in London, who placed beforeEuropean Bankers a paper by Sebastian Rodrigues, Convenor of GOAMAP.
“An urgent appeal was made to all the banks involved in lending finances to Vedanta to immediately rethink their business. Financing Vedanta is financing destruction of Goa,” read the closing lines of the presentation.
He highlighted how presently open cast iron ore, manganese and bauxite mining is posing grave threat to Goa’s environment.
“There is tremendous pressure on land, water, housing, quality of air, agriculture, fisheries and forest cover due to mining industry. Mining has progressively ruined areas under mining for over half a century and it continues to do so with very high pace with sophisticated mechanization of the industry in place.”WATER: The paper said, Goa’s ground water is major casualty of mining as ground water is pumped out of the mining pits and released into the rivers and rivulets. And resultantly, wells in the villages where mines are located have gone dry and people are compelled to depend upon mining companies for the supply of water in tankers for all purposes.
The village of Pissurlem is a case in point in Sattari taluka. Here, Sesa Goa is one of the mining companies having its operations.
AGRO: The paper also pointed out that agriculture is another casualty of the prosperity of mining in Goa. “For the past few decades agriculture has been badly shattered by the mining industry due to large amount of silt deposits in the cultivable paddy fields.”In Pissurlem village, farmers have forced to abandon large track of paddy field for the reasons of mining silt into the fields, Rodrigues claimed adding that Sirgao village is Bicholim taluka is another casualty of mining industry over the past 40 years.
AIR POLLUTION: The paper also submitted that how mining activities has led to air pollution in the mining belt. “Health of People including Women and children is badly affected. There is high level of lung diseases prevalent in the mining belt. Asthma and tuberculosis are very common. Water shortages and water pollution has also caused number of health related problem. There are reports that people in Goa’s mining belt has rate of kidney failure cases” says Rodrigues.
FOREST: Forest is another major casualty. Mining covers over hundred mining leases located in Western Ghats forest – thick evergreen forest – one of the world’s 12 bio-diversity hotspots declared by United Nations.
According to submission in London meet mining leases occupy over 67,000 hectares of Goa’s land while manufacturing industry occupies little over 1,500 hectares of land. Nevertheless, manufacturing industry contributes more to Goa’s economy than mining industry.
Herald, Sunday, September 27, 2009, Panaji
PANJIM, SEPT 26
In what could be termed as a new tactic to corner major mining company and counter its claims of “social responsibility” the Goa Federation of Mines Affected People (GOAMAP) presented a paper on mining exploits of Vendanta before its nine bankers in London.
Vedanta operates in the State, Sesa Goa and Dempo mines which it acquired earlier this year.It was a conference of bankers that finances Vendanta where various NGOs, lawyers, social activists presented well-researched works on mining operations of Vendanta group wherever it has mining stakes in the world.
The GOAMAP was represented by H Bedi in London, who placed beforeEuropean Bankers a paper by Sebastian Rodrigues, Convenor of GOAMAP.
“An urgent appeal was made to all the banks involved in lending finances to Vedanta to immediately rethink their business. Financing Vedanta is financing destruction of Goa,” read the closing lines of the presentation.
He highlighted how presently open cast iron ore, manganese and bauxite mining is posing grave threat to Goa’s environment.
“There is tremendous pressure on land, water, housing, quality of air, agriculture, fisheries and forest cover due to mining industry. Mining has progressively ruined areas under mining for over half a century and it continues to do so with very high pace with sophisticated mechanization of the industry in place.”WATER: The paper said, Goa’s ground water is major casualty of mining as ground water is pumped out of the mining pits and released into the rivers and rivulets. And resultantly, wells in the villages where mines are located have gone dry and people are compelled to depend upon mining companies for the supply of water in tankers for all purposes.
The village of Pissurlem is a case in point in Sattari taluka. Here, Sesa Goa is one of the mining companies having its operations.
AGRO: The paper also pointed out that agriculture is another casualty of the prosperity of mining in Goa. “For the past few decades agriculture has been badly shattered by the mining industry due to large amount of silt deposits in the cultivable paddy fields.”In Pissurlem village, farmers have forced to abandon large track of paddy field for the reasons of mining silt into the fields, Rodrigues claimed adding that Sirgao village is Bicholim taluka is another casualty of mining industry over the past 40 years.
AIR POLLUTION: The paper also submitted that how mining activities has led to air pollution in the mining belt. “Health of People including Women and children is badly affected. There is high level of lung diseases prevalent in the mining belt. Asthma and tuberculosis are very common. Water shortages and water pollution has also caused number of health related problem. There are reports that people in Goa’s mining belt has rate of kidney failure cases” says Rodrigues.
FOREST: Forest is another major casualty. Mining covers over hundred mining leases located in Western Ghats forest – thick evergreen forest – one of the world’s 12 bio-diversity hotspots declared by United Nations.
According to submission in London meet mining leases occupy over 67,000 hectares of Goa’s land while manufacturing industry occupies little over 1,500 hectares of land. Nevertheless, manufacturing industry contributes more to Goa’s economy than mining industry.
Herald, Sunday, September 27, 2009, Panaji
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Slide show on Sonshi Government School affected by mining
Sonshi primary school in Sattari has neither a playground nor running water. Instead of these luxuaries, the children can play in mining dust.
The students play and learn just a few meters from 5 mines. Watch this slide presentation prepared by Advocate Krishnendu Mukherjee on Village Tinto website.
The students play and learn just a few meters from 5 mines. Watch this slide presentation prepared by Advocate Krishnendu Mukherjee on Village Tinto website.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
These school students have mining dust for company
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, SEPT 23
The 12 students of Sonshi Government Primary School in Sattari have nothing, but mining dust for company during their school hours. There is no playground of or any open space in front of the school. No sooner the students step out of their classrooms they are catapulted into the thick of mining activities.
Convenor GOAMAP Senastian Rodrigues in a presentation held in the city on Wednesday highlighted how five mining companies surrounding the school have violated environmental and all possible laws there are.
Rodrigues said the presentation was prepared by one Advocate Krishnendu Mukherjee from Kolkata who has been in Goa for some time. He had done a study on the school tow months back during the monsoons, he mentioned.
The study shows mining overburden has been dumped upto 10 metres from the steps of the school. There has been no running water in the school ever since Sesa Goa beneficiation plant started operating next to the school somewhere in 2003.
The mining companies surrounding the school are involved in heavy encroachment as the original area, 650 square metres, in which the institution was housed has depleted over the years.
Rodrigues said the Department of Education failed to give any proper response to RTI request concerning educational standards at the school and the Goa State Pollution Control Board didn’t carry any tests on air, water or noise pollution surrounding the institution.
During the rainy season one can find polluted rain water near the school because of the mining in its surrounding.
Sonshi Government Primary School was set up in 1964. It has a sole teacher for the last eight years who has been trying hard to get transfer but the same has been refused.
When questioned if the school could be amalgamated with another government institution, Ramesh Gauns said the next school was at the distance of 9-10 kilometers. There are many reasons why this school can’t be amalgamated with another school, he added.
Gauns said there are several such schools that are affected due to mining.
Rodrigues said their aim was to add one more dimension to their campaign by exposing how mining was damaging school infrastructure. “We will do a study and come out with details of schools affected by mining,” he stated.
Herald, September 24, 2009, Panaji
PANJIM, SEPT 23
The 12 students of Sonshi Government Primary School in Sattari have nothing, but mining dust for company during their school hours. There is no playground of or any open space in front of the school. No sooner the students step out of their classrooms they are catapulted into the thick of mining activities.
Convenor GOAMAP Senastian Rodrigues in a presentation held in the city on Wednesday highlighted how five mining companies surrounding the school have violated environmental and all possible laws there are.
Rodrigues said the presentation was prepared by one Advocate Krishnendu Mukherjee from Kolkata who has been in Goa for some time. He had done a study on the school tow months back during the monsoons, he mentioned.
The study shows mining overburden has been dumped upto 10 metres from the steps of the school. There has been no running water in the school ever since Sesa Goa beneficiation plant started operating next to the school somewhere in 2003.
The mining companies surrounding the school are involved in heavy encroachment as the original area, 650 square metres, in which the institution was housed has depleted over the years.
Rodrigues said the Department of Education failed to give any proper response to RTI request concerning educational standards at the school and the Goa State Pollution Control Board didn’t carry any tests on air, water or noise pollution surrounding the institution.
During the rainy season one can find polluted rain water near the school because of the mining in its surrounding.
Sonshi Government Primary School was set up in 1964. It has a sole teacher for the last eight years who has been trying hard to get transfer but the same has been refused.
When questioned if the school could be amalgamated with another government institution, Ramesh Gauns said the next school was at the distance of 9-10 kilometers. There are many reasons why this school can’t be amalgamated with another school, he added.
Gauns said there are several such schools that are affected due to mining.
Rodrigues said their aim was to add one more dimension to their campaign by exposing how mining was damaging school infrastructure. “We will do a study and come out with details of schools affected by mining,” he stated.
Herald, September 24, 2009, Panaji
Mining causes concern to Sattari schools
BY A STAFF REPORTER
Panjim: It is a common knowledge that mining activities being undertaken in the hinterlands of the state affect the flora and fauna but a study by a human rights activist Adv Krishnendu Mukherjee has now brought a startling reality to the fore, schools in the Sattari taluka are also badly affected by the mines resulting in a decrease in a the attendance of the students studying there.
Adv Mukherjee conducted a research of the Sonshi school, Sattari in the last twon months that was presented by anti-mining activist Seby Rodrigues at institute Piedade recently. In the research, it was stated that this school is surrounded by five mines, including Sesa Goa.
This Marathi-medium government primary school has one teacher for just 12 students whose attendance is on decline due to the mining activity, says the study that also points out to further hardships being faced by the school during the monsoons.
During the monsoons, the polluted rainwater from the mines flows near the school. So also the mining rejects are being dumped within 10 metres from the school steps. Besides, the school lacks running water facility due to the presence of a beneficiation plant of Sesa Goa that is operational from 2003 in this area, states Mukherjee, who further claims that the Goa Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has not done any test on the air and water around the school.
He also alleges that “this is a violation of the student’s right to education, besides other environmental violations concerning air, water and noise pollution as well as encroachment of the government land by Sesa Goa.”
A teacher-cum-activist Ramesh Gawas also pointed out that “this school was started in the year1964 much before the mining activities commenced there. At that time, the area was 600 sq metres but now it is nearly 250 sq metres.” Gawas added “there is no play ground for the students.” He further lamented that this is the state of all the schools functioning in the mining areas and that the low admission rate in these schools could be attributed to the ongoing mining activities and their hazards.
Gomantak Times, September 24, 2009, Panaji
Panjim: It is a common knowledge that mining activities being undertaken in the hinterlands of the state affect the flora and fauna but a study by a human rights activist Adv Krishnendu Mukherjee has now brought a startling reality to the fore, schools in the Sattari taluka are also badly affected by the mines resulting in a decrease in a the attendance of the students studying there.
Adv Mukherjee conducted a research of the Sonshi school, Sattari in the last twon months that was presented by anti-mining activist Seby Rodrigues at institute Piedade recently. In the research, it was stated that this school is surrounded by five mines, including Sesa Goa.
This Marathi-medium government primary school has one teacher for just 12 students whose attendance is on decline due to the mining activity, says the study that also points out to further hardships being faced by the school during the monsoons.
During the monsoons, the polluted rainwater from the mines flows near the school. So also the mining rejects are being dumped within 10 metres from the school steps. Besides, the school lacks running water facility due to the presence of a beneficiation plant of Sesa Goa that is operational from 2003 in this area, states Mukherjee, who further claims that the Goa Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has not done any test on the air and water around the school.
He also alleges that “this is a violation of the student’s right to education, besides other environmental violations concerning air, water and noise pollution as well as encroachment of the government land by Sesa Goa.”
A teacher-cum-activist Ramesh Gawas also pointed out that “this school was started in the year1964 much before the mining activities commenced there. At that time, the area was 600 sq metres but now it is nearly 250 sq metres.” Gawas added “there is no play ground for the students.” He further lamented that this is the state of all the schools functioning in the mining areas and that the low admission rate in these schools could be attributed to the ongoing mining activities and their hazards.
Gomantak Times, September 24, 2009, Panaji
Mining Affects edu in rural areas: Study
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: For the 12 students of the government primary school at Sonshi in Sattari taluka, the first wondrous years of learning are a test of endurance in a school located amid the noise of mining machinery, the dust of mines and the sight of red earth all around.
“The view from this school is not of green fields and birds. The children here grow up seeing only red mining dust,” said anti-mining activist Seby Rodrigues. Through a slide presentation to the media, Rodrigues portrayed how mining has adversely affected the primary school in Sonshi. However, he added that the Sonshi is only one example of how mining has affected the primary education of young children in many parts of Goa. The study was conducted by Krishnendu Mukherjee, a lawyer and environmentalist.
The school had about 600 square metres of land around it when it started in 1964. Subsequently, four mines came up around the school with a fifth mining company setting up its beneficiation plant in front of the school. “Now the school has only about 250 square metres left. Clearly there is an encroachment by the mining companies. There is mining overburden dumped up to 10 meters from the steps of the school,” said Rodrigues.
The study shows how during the monsoons, polluted rainwater runs close to the school. At other times of the year, the children have to bear the elevated noise and dust levels within the school caused by heavy machinery and trucks. The study expresses fears that the mining slurry may contain arsenic and cause contamination due to polluted waters. According to the study, the Goa state pollution control board has not conducted any tests on air, water or noise pollution surrounding the school.
Mukherjee said that one aim of the study is to establish whether there are violations by the mining companies and also by the education department. ‘Mining should improve the local economy. But here we have a case where children are adversely affected by it. Our study is ongoing and we are waiting for evidence of violations. On the face of it, this seems to be the case. We will give our findings to the government and the mining companies,” Mukherjee said.
His research began in April 2008, but information has been hard to obtain. The education department “failed to give any proper responses” under RTI. Also, the lone teacher at the school is reluctant to say anything for fear of losing his job. And may be his life. After the teacher spoke to the researcher, a guard was posted outside the school for few days. The teacher has requested for a transfer several times. All his requests have been denied.
Has the number of students at Sonshi school decreased? Mukherjee said he is awaiting this information which he has applied for under RTI from the education department. But apparently, the children of Sonshi do not have much of a choice. The next government primary school is in Sanquelim, 10 kilometers away.
Times of India, September 24, 2009, Panaji
Panaji: For the 12 students of the government primary school at Sonshi in Sattari taluka, the first wondrous years of learning are a test of endurance in a school located amid the noise of mining machinery, the dust of mines and the sight of red earth all around.
“The view from this school is not of green fields and birds. The children here grow up seeing only red mining dust,” said anti-mining activist Seby Rodrigues. Through a slide presentation to the media, Rodrigues portrayed how mining has adversely affected the primary school in Sonshi. However, he added that the Sonshi is only one example of how mining has affected the primary education of young children in many parts of Goa. The study was conducted by Krishnendu Mukherjee, a lawyer and environmentalist.
The school had about 600 square metres of land around it when it started in 1964. Subsequently, four mines came up around the school with a fifth mining company setting up its beneficiation plant in front of the school. “Now the school has only about 250 square metres left. Clearly there is an encroachment by the mining companies. There is mining overburden dumped up to 10 meters from the steps of the school,” said Rodrigues.
The study shows how during the monsoons, polluted rainwater runs close to the school. At other times of the year, the children have to bear the elevated noise and dust levels within the school caused by heavy machinery and trucks. The study expresses fears that the mining slurry may contain arsenic and cause contamination due to polluted waters. According to the study, the Goa state pollution control board has not conducted any tests on air, water or noise pollution surrounding the school.
Mukherjee said that one aim of the study is to establish whether there are violations by the mining companies and also by the education department. ‘Mining should improve the local economy. But here we have a case where children are adversely affected by it. Our study is ongoing and we are waiting for evidence of violations. On the face of it, this seems to be the case. We will give our findings to the government and the mining companies,” Mukherjee said.
His research began in April 2008, but information has been hard to obtain. The education department “failed to give any proper responses” under RTI. Also, the lone teacher at the school is reluctant to say anything for fear of losing his job. And may be his life. After the teacher spoke to the researcher, a guard was posted outside the school for few days. The teacher has requested for a transfer several times. All his requests have been denied.
Has the number of students at Sonshi school decreased? Mukherjee said he is awaiting this information which he has applied for under RTI from the education department. But apparently, the children of Sonshi do not have much of a choice. The next government primary school is in Sanquelim, 10 kilometers away.
Times of India, September 24, 2009, Panaji
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Aakash Naik: I will fight the mining lobby
Just when the villagers of Advalpal had resigned themselves to their fate, a tiny 9-year-old boy, Aakash, took up the cudgels against the mining giant, making it bite the dust. Thanks to a PIL filed in the High Court by him through his mother along with Goa Foundation against the mining excesses, the High Court in a landmark judgement restrained the Company from mining at Assanora.
In a chat with RAJESH CHODANKAR the ‘chotta’ hero, Aakash Shyamsundar Naik, talks about his resolve to save Advalpal village from certain death.
GT: What inspired you to fight the mining lobby at such an early age?
Aakash Naik (AN): I know this is the age to make fun and study but I felt that the villagers were not feeling secure from politicians and police in their battle against mining. Under such circumstances it was my duty to shoulder the responsibility in the interest of villagers.
GT: What do you feel will happen if the mining continues unhindered?
AN: The mining project, which has been stayed, would have destroyedAdvalpal village, its fauna, natural heritage, water reservoirs like springs, wells etc. However, had this project continued entire village would have not have survived. So, in order to avoid this ill-effect it was my duty to stand against mining.
GT: What are the ill effects, which you think took place when the mining was in progress?
AN: The mining project devastated almost the entire village during last monsoon. It was the blessing of the almighty, which saved our village from casualties. I cannot forget one of the dreadful nights of June 2009 in which a flurry of mining rejects along with muddy water stormed into our houses when we were fast asleep. I realized something had happened only the next day. In fact, the villagers brought this to the notice of the mining companies and politicians several times but fell on deaf and dump ears. During summer its worse because of dust pollution. I have fallen sick several times as a result of the pollution. The doctor advised my father either to shift me elsewhere or find other alternative.
And also, due to sound pollution I could not concentrate on my studies that’s why my father decided to shift me to Panjim at least when my exams are round the corner.
GT: Do you think the mining lobby will harass you after the HC judgment?
AN: We have been taught about Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who had shouldered the responsibility to fight against evils of society since his childhood. Taking the encouragement from him I have decided to shoulder this responsibility to fight against evils of society and if while doing so if I am harassed by the mining companies I am very well prepared to fight against them.
GT: What are your views on the decision of the High Court?
AN: There was a time when villagers had lost their hope, as there was none to support them. But, the High Court has respected the feelings of the villagers and has saved the entire village from devastation. We welcome the decision of the High Court and express confidence that this stay will last forever.
Gomantak Times September 19, 2009, Panaji
Friday, September 18, 2009
Tiger tension
Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar is an outstanding teacher,environmentalist and a fine human being. He has gone out of his way to help so many youth of his own and surrounding villages acquire a good education and develop a sensitivity to their environment.
It is a fact that a tiger was killed; though by whom we do not know. There is some confusion, because what was sent as suspected tiger remains to the Wildlife Institute at Dehradun has turned out to be another animal. But this is no excuse for the virtual witch-hunt and social boycott that Mr Kerkar is facing in his own village.
The charge that he is “trying to spoil the future of the youth” is ridiculous. It is for people all over the state to stand up for one of Goa’s finest practicing environmentalists. It is the duty of Valpoi MLA Vishwajeet Rane to come to Mr Kerkar’s help, rather than side with his detractors.
Editorial, Herald, Panjim, September 18, 2009
It is a fact that a tiger was killed; though by whom we do not know. There is some confusion, because what was sent as suspected tiger remains to the Wildlife Institute at Dehradun has turned out to be another animal. But this is no excuse for the virtual witch-hunt and social boycott that Mr Kerkar is facing in his own village.
The charge that he is “trying to spoil the future of the youth” is ridiculous. It is for people all over the state to stand up for one of Goa’s finest practicing environmentalists. It is the duty of Valpoi MLA Vishwajeet Rane to come to Mr Kerkar’s help, rather than side with his detractors.
Editorial, Herald, Panjim, September 18, 2009
Court restrains Sesa Goa from mining at Advalpal
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, SEPT 17 While Government turned a blind eye towards mining excesses in Advalpal, villagers today obtained relief from the High Court by virtue of a petition filed by a nine-year old boy who raised the question of sustainability.
The Bombay High Court at Goa on Thursday passed an order restraining Sesa Goa from mining Face 1 and Face 2 of the company’s iron ore mining lease at Advalpal village near Assonora.
The child, Akash Naik in his petition, filed through his mother Sharmila Naik together with Goa Foundation highlighted his grim future in a village that will neither have water nor paddy fields since the mining companies have destroyed all the nallahs, and the sediment from their mining activities has already damaged their paddy fields.
A Division Bench comprising Justice S B Deshmukh and U D Salvi issued the order after hearing arguments for over three hours when petitioner’s counsel Adv Norma Alvares brought out before Court how the company continued its activities in violation of its mining plan.
After the restraint order, the Court posted the matter for further hearing on October 8 to take on board the company’s proposal to remove within a specific time-frame the huge illegal mining dumps it had created along the Advalpal nallah.
Adv Norma explained in detail how Sesa Goa indulged in unsafe mining in violation of its approved mining plan. The petitioners had filed complaints first in March with the Indian Bureau of Mines that illegal dumps were being created by the company along the steep slopes bounding the nullah adjoining their settlement. However, IBM did not take any action except for writing letters.
On the night of June 6, the dumps collapsed in heavy rain and tonnes of mining silt and sediment overflowed into the nullah destroying the concrete embankment and entered people’s homes and paddy fields.
The petitioner alleged police did not file any FIR nor arrest anyone. On the other hand IBM visited the site ten days after the disaster and discovered that mining company had indeed violated its plan and a notice was issued.
The petitioner’s case was also strengthened by affidavit filed by the Deputy Controller of Mines which stated “that the mining company had violated the provision of the approved mining plan by not dumping the waste in the designated places.”
The site visit was carried out by Dr A N Murthy, Senior Mining Geologist who noted “the environment protection measures required to control the waste from going out of the dump was not adequate.”An expert committee appointed by the Goa Government, pursuant to High Court’s intervention, to examine the situation created by the disaster on June 6, also reported that “the nullah has choked up and overflown into the houses, which suggests that the drains and other related protective works could not cater to the requirement of the heavy rains.”
Herald, Panjim, September 18, 2009
PANJIM, SEPT 17 While Government turned a blind eye towards mining excesses in Advalpal, villagers today obtained relief from the High Court by virtue of a petition filed by a nine-year old boy who raised the question of sustainability.
The Bombay High Court at Goa on Thursday passed an order restraining Sesa Goa from mining Face 1 and Face 2 of the company’s iron ore mining lease at Advalpal village near Assonora.
The child, Akash Naik in his petition, filed through his mother Sharmila Naik together with Goa Foundation highlighted his grim future in a village that will neither have water nor paddy fields since the mining companies have destroyed all the nallahs, and the sediment from their mining activities has already damaged their paddy fields.
A Division Bench comprising Justice S B Deshmukh and U D Salvi issued the order after hearing arguments for over three hours when petitioner’s counsel Adv Norma Alvares brought out before Court how the company continued its activities in violation of its mining plan.
After the restraint order, the Court posted the matter for further hearing on October 8 to take on board the company’s proposal to remove within a specific time-frame the huge illegal mining dumps it had created along the Advalpal nallah.
Adv Norma explained in detail how Sesa Goa indulged in unsafe mining in violation of its approved mining plan. The petitioners had filed complaints first in March with the Indian Bureau of Mines that illegal dumps were being created by the company along the steep slopes bounding the nullah adjoining their settlement. However, IBM did not take any action except for writing letters.
On the night of June 6, the dumps collapsed in heavy rain and tonnes of mining silt and sediment overflowed into the nullah destroying the concrete embankment and entered people’s homes and paddy fields.
The petitioner alleged police did not file any FIR nor arrest anyone. On the other hand IBM visited the site ten days after the disaster and discovered that mining company had indeed violated its plan and a notice was issued.
The petitioner’s case was also strengthened by affidavit filed by the Deputy Controller of Mines which stated “that the mining company had violated the provision of the approved mining plan by not dumping the waste in the designated places.”
The site visit was carried out by Dr A N Murthy, Senior Mining Geologist who noted “the environment protection measures required to control the waste from going out of the dump was not adequate.”An expert committee appointed by the Goa Government, pursuant to High Court’s intervention, to examine the situation created by the disaster on June 6, also reported that “the nullah has choked up and overflown into the houses, which suggests that the drains and other related protective works could not cater to the requirement of the heavy rains.”
Herald, Panjim, September 18, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Trouble In Paradise
Megha Bahree, 09.10.09, 11:45 PM EDT
Published in Forbes magazine from United States of America
His only hope is that the law will be applied fairly. In Goa, that's not a given.
Published in Forbes magazine from United States of America
An hour's drive from Goa's luxury resorts, Indian mining companies are wrecking the land and breaking laws.
Ramesh Gauns, an English and geography school teacher, gets into an argument with a security guard. The site is a long barbed wire fence that slopes uphill just outside an iron ore site operated by the Dempo Mining Co. in his native Goa, on the western coast of India. "You can't take pictures, this is private property," the guard says to Gauns and a reporter. Gauns is used to confrontation with the mining companies. "I know what you're doing here," he shouts. "It's illegal! You can't scare us!" By this time, the reporter has already snapped a handful of shots of the lake below -- which is dyed the color of dried blood from the mine's runoff.
Gauns, 58, is a perennial protestor in Goa. He has demonstrated against the caste system, religious rituals and, most recently, what he believes to be environmental crimes. His latest fight started three years ago, when he went to a public hearing on a proposed iron ore mine on the banks of the river in his home town, Bicholim. He mobilized the community, filed a complaint with the state environmental agency, then took his cause to the Delhi High Court, which put the project on hold.
He hopes he will be as successful with his latest target, the Dempo mine. It is there that the residents of Sirigaon filed a petition to the Bombay High Court in June 2008, complaining that their wells were drying up and that their fields were ruined because of silt from the mines. The court directed the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, an autonomous government body, to investigate.
That report, out since March, validates the villagers' complaints, and says the companies should replenish the aquifer, restore the damaged rice fields and stabilize the mine waste -- measures that might take 18 months at a total cost of $1.4 million. The court has not yet decided how to proceed -- prompting activists like Gauns to collect more data against the mines.
Most Indians know nothing of the standoff. Nor do the hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists who flock to Goa for its sparkling beaches, luscious greenery, rave parties and Cancun laxity. But the state is also rich in iron ore, and 90% of its length (65 miles) is in various stages of open-pit mining.
Most resorts are an hour's drive away from the mines, but the mining industry isn't quite out of sight. From the sandy shores of the beach resorts, sunbathers can see barge after barge, fully-loaded with mine slag, every morning on the Arabian Sea.
"Goa is a tiny place, and any mining activity in the interiors, will affect the coastal areas as well," says Gauns, whom the Ministry of Environment & Forests has designated as a go-to guy for schools and teachers.
Whatever the High Court decides, this is a tough battle. Last year India exported 100 million tons of iron ore -- 45% of it from Goa -- most of which ended up in China, says industry research firm Steel Guru in Mumbai. Behind that output are powerful players. Since June, Dempo has belonged to Indian mining tycoon Anil Agarwal (net worth more than $4 billion), after his subsidiary Sesa Goa acquired it for $360 million and became the largest operator in the area. Along with Rajaram Bandekar (Sirigaon) Mines Pvt. Ltd., and Chowgule & Co. Pvt. Ltd., Dempo has been mining the Sirigoan area, 35 kms from Goa's capital Panjim, for six decades.
Up until the mid-1990s, the companies relied on men with shovels. Then, as the surface ore was depleted, they switched to mechanized, open-pit mining, relying on giant excavators that can dig holes as deep as 40 meters below sea level. The overburden -- the mud, soil and rocks left over from the ore slag -- gets tossed on the sides of the pit in huge piles. This is where the problems start. The deeper the companies dig, the more water they drain from the surrounding water tables. The higher the mountains of overburden, the more apt they are to be washed away in the rains, polluting water supplies and rendering fields unusable for planting.
For each ton of ore produced, miners dig out three tons of waste -- about average for such sites. However, some mines are in clear violation of certain conditions laid down by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The ministry stipulates that overburden be piled no higher than 30 meters and at a gradient of no more than 28 degrees. But Gauns maintains that mounds at several Dempo mines in Goa have had gradients as high as 45 degrees and have been piled far higher than the limits allow. Such conditions can create perilous instability, says Kadri Dagdelen, head of the department of mining engineering at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo. "I don't think you can keep the broken material at 45 degrees because with rain it will wash away," he says. Or the winds can carry it miles from the site. Even as the monsoons had barely begun, the surrounding roads and villages were dusted in rust-colored soil.
It was after their wells had been drying up over four or five years, in an area that typically gets 2,000 mm to 2,500 mm of annual rainfall, that the residents of Sirigaon filed their petition to the high court. The mining area controlled by the three companies is a plateau 100 meters above sea level that captures rainwater as it percolates through the several layers of soil and acts as a so-called recharge zone for the ground water system. But, says the court-ordered report, the recharge area has been destroyed as the miners have dug into the plateau to reach the ore.
As the companies have dug deeper, they have reached levels lower than the water table. As a result, the water from the village area is sliding into the mine pits, further depleting the water supply. In some cases, water from the pits can seep into the groundwater, contaminating it. "If the aquifers are draining into the mines, the miners can pump it out but this water can be acid water," says Tuncel Yegulalp, a professor of mining engineering at Columbia University. "If this were in the U.S., the government would never have given the company permission to mine in such close proximity to residential areas."
But even pumping can pose hazards. A Dempo mine in the region has dug down to 30 meters below sea level and has to pump out 3,000 cubic meters to 10,000 cubic meters of water per day from its pits. This, says the court-ordered report, is directly discharged into the nearby Asnoda river. But the effluent is extremely brackish -- containing high concentrations of chloride (510 mg to 642 mg per liter) -- and can't be used for drinking, cooking, cleaning or irrigation. Usually a mining company creates an artificial pond into which it pumps water from the pits, treats it to remove harmful ingredients, and then discharges it. But Dempo doesn't bother with any of that, says the report.
The mining waste also washes into fields, ruining the rice crops. An analysis by the reporting group found soil samples that contained as much as 86% silt; unaffected fields had up to 67% silt. Such a high density of silt means that soil can't hold or percolate water, rendering it useless for planting much of anything. The soil has also become acidic, and has low supplies of the microorganisms that sustain oxygen, nitrogen and other nutrients to make soil fertile.
It wouldn't take much in the way of remediation. In addition to collecting rooftop rain water, the report suggests the companies create artificial recharge pits, controlling mine water seepage by sealing it in with grout along the edge of the mines and adding treated mine water to a back fill area for an aquifer storage recovery system. Two of the companies, Bandekar and Chowgule, have set up recharge pits.
Not Dempo. P.K. Mukherjee, managing director of Agarwal's Sesa Goa subsidiary, says the company read the report while it was gearing up to buy Dempo. "There are people who are not doing mining the way it should be done," he shrugs. "Dempo is not operating in the Sesa way, but it has not been the worst [either]."
The state government has dragged its feet, too. In 2000 it declared two areas in western Goa -- Mhadei and Netravali, which cover 420 square kilometers -- wildlife sanctuaries. But it didn't cancel pre-existing mining leases within that region. The Supreme Court had to step in with a cease-and-desist order. Though mining has halted, the areas remain devastated.
Even today, Goa officials don't seem inclined to move against mine operators. Asked when the state might act on the court-ordered report, Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat says he hasn't seen it. How is that possible? "I don't have time for this," he barks, before slamming down the phone.
Gauns and his colleague Sebastian Rodriguez, 36, seem to enjoy the fight, and are well known among Goa's protest community. Rodriguez is an activist on behalf of tribal peoples and a blogger -- which has gotten him into trouble. Fomento Group, a mining company with the greatest number of leases in Goa, has filed a defamation suit against him, seeking $100 million in damages. Rodriguez claims that Fomento is just using scare tactics.
His only hope is that the law will be applied fairly. In Goa, that's not a given.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Goa government for slashing buffer zones around sanctuaries
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/goa-government-for-slashing-buffer-zones-around-sanctuaries_100240221.html
Panaji, Aug 30 (IANS) Contrary to assurances given by the Goa government to
crack down on rampant mining in forest areas, its report submitted to the
union Ministry of Environment and Forests has recommended drastic reduction
of eco fragile zones near wildlife sanctuaries.
Environmentalists as well as opposition parties have slammed the government
over the report on eco fragile zone.
Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Shashi Kumar told IANS that the report,
which was prepared by former state revenue secretary Rajiv Yaduvanshi, had,
in fact, recommended in some cases doing away completely with the buffer
zones around wildlife sanctuaries like Netravali, Bhagwan Mahavir and Mhadei
favouring their reduction to zero metres.
The gist of the report, which is pending with the central government for
approval, is that the area and extent of eco sensitive zones will be decided
on a case to case basis, Kumar said. The buffer zones were earlier five
kilometres.
In some cases, the buffer zones around these sanctuaries will be reduced to
less than five kilometres and in some to zero metres, he said. We have
asked the centre to expedite a decision on the report. We are sending them
constant reminders to inform us about the status of the report, Kumar said.
The report, after conducting field inspections, has also recommended that
the entire buffer zone along the Netravali and Bhagwan Mahavir wildlife
sanctuaries, which are located along the states eastern border, shared with
Karnataka, be reduced to zero metres.
The issue of mining in and around wildlife sanctuaries rocked the recently
concluded monsoon session of the state assembly.
The draft mineral policy tabled by the state government also advocates
mining in close vicinity of wildlife sanctuaries.
Environmentalists have protested against the report. We have raised our
objections to the report with the state government. The sole purpose of the
report is to encourage mining, said green activist Claude Alvares of Goa
Foundation, an environmental monitoring action group.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has repeatedly alleged that several
cabinet ministers in the Congress-led alliance government were involved in
illegal mining.
Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar had also alleged that nearly 18
percent of Goas 33 million tonnes iron, manganese and bauxite mining
exports were fed by illegal mining. There are presently more than 100 mining
leases in the state.
Panaji, Aug 30 (IANS) Contrary to assurances given by the Goa government to
crack down on rampant mining in forest areas, its report submitted to the
union Ministry of Environment and Forests has recommended drastic reduction
of eco fragile zones near wildlife sanctuaries.
Environmentalists as well as opposition parties have slammed the government
over the report on eco fragile zone.
Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Shashi Kumar told IANS that the report,
which was prepared by former state revenue secretary Rajiv Yaduvanshi, had,
in fact, recommended in some cases doing away completely with the buffer
zones around wildlife sanctuaries like Netravali, Bhagwan Mahavir and Mhadei
favouring their reduction to zero metres.
The gist of the report, which is pending with the central government for
approval, is that the area and extent of eco sensitive zones will be decided
on a case to case basis, Kumar said. The buffer zones were earlier five
kilometres.
In some cases, the buffer zones around these sanctuaries will be reduced to
less than five kilometres and in some to zero metres, he said. We have
asked the centre to expedite a decision on the report. We are sending them
constant reminders to inform us about the status of the report, Kumar said.
The report, after conducting field inspections, has also recommended that
the entire buffer zone along the Netravali and Bhagwan Mahavir wildlife
sanctuaries, which are located along the states eastern border, shared with
Karnataka, be reduced to zero metres.
The issue of mining in and around wildlife sanctuaries rocked the recently
concluded monsoon session of the state assembly.
The draft mineral policy tabled by the state government also advocates
mining in close vicinity of wildlife sanctuaries.
Environmentalists have protested against the report. We have raised our
objections to the report with the state government. The sole purpose of the
report is to encourage mining, said green activist Claude Alvares of Goa
Foundation, an environmental monitoring action group.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has repeatedly alleged that several
cabinet ministers in the Congress-led alliance government were involved in
illegal mining.
Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar had also alleged that nearly 18
percent of Goas 33 million tonnes iron, manganese and bauxite mining
exports were fed by illegal mining. There are presently more than 100 mining
leases in the state.
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