This is to request you to kindly take immediate steps to prevent large tracts of land from being transferred to private corporations in future whereby neither the Government nor the people of Goa will benefit in any way while some individuals will end up having the last laugh.
Sir, in the name of national interest and with the best intentions of the State at heart and mind, the Government of Goa, had handed over land to Central Government agencies like the ONGC and the Mormugao Port Trust took over land that was occupied by the erstwhile Portuguese regime.
In the case of MPT, instead of working in consonance with the State Government in the best interest of Goans, it has been functioning as a State within a State with scant regards to the laws and rules of this State. While the MPT does not even take the mandatory permissions and licenses from the State authorities for their constructions, it has the audacity to object to acquisition of land at Velsao for traditional fishermen on grounds that it comes within their jurisdiction.
You are seized of this matter as it has been debated ad nausem even in the August Legislative Assembly. However, what is of greater significance is the fact that the MPT is on the way to be corporatised as has been done with the Jawaharlal Nehru Port and if this happens, then the large tracts of land in MPT’s possession will pass on to a private corporation thereby denying Goans and the State Government any control over it. Hence the State Government has to act immediately to ensure that MPT retains only as much land as is required for its operations.
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation also has large land in its possession which was apparently given on lease to it by the State Government. Sir, under the disinvestment policy of the Government of India, ONGC is slowly being turned into a private entity. In such a situation, the large tracts of land that were given to the Government of India undertaking, will end up being in the possession of private corporation which once again is not in the interest of Goa and Goans.
The Navy too continues to be on an acquisition spree with the State Government giving in to their demand in name of national interest. However, when the Navy keeps poking spokes in any activity aimed at the State’s benefit like the expansion of the Dabolim airport which was a civilian airport initially, it is time for the Government to begin bargaining with the Navy too in the interest of its citizens.
The adamant attitude of the Navy is visible to the naked eye at Dabolim where the divider along the four lane highway has been reduced significantly as the Naval authorities would not permit the demolition of a compound wall of a grocery store.
The Navy apparently has now cast its eyes upon the two islands of Mormugao and more land at Bimbta beach. The State Government would do well not to bow down to this demand of the Navy as these islands can well be developed as the base for the off shore casinos which bring in revenue to the State coffers. Besides, the Government of Goa has already given the AnjedivIsland free to the Navy.
Sir, we are a small State and given our size and the rate at which our population is increasing, we cannot afford to take up a philanthropic attitude in dishing out land to anybody and everybody who seeks it. Therefore, I earnestly request you go through any request for more land with a fine tooth and at the same time, review the earlier decisions to ensure that only the quantum of required land is given to these Central Government agencies.
Permit me to cite the example of Zuari Industries. In the name of industrialization, they were given large tracts of land. In fact, they have so much excess land that they have now set up a college campus by using the same land that was given to them at a pittance. If the same land was to be provided now, the State would have earned some revenue. Worst is the fact that no seats are reserved for Goan students at this college. So the question that comes up is what benefit do Goa and Goans get from such ventures?
Hence, Sir, I request you not to repeat the mistakes made by us earlier and instead be not only judicious but even miserly, while giving our land to any agency.
Today morning at around 8.45 am Anthony D'Silva was taken in police custody in Margao when he staged protest to highlight plastic garbage in Goa. Anthony dressed in boiler suit costumes with plastic empty bottles tied all over his body got into the venue of flag hosting site on Independence site. South Goa collector called in police force and ordered Anthony be detained at police station till the official independence day function gets over at around 11.00 am.
In addition there are around 30 people associated with Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvott (GXE) affected with real estate, mining, tourism that are protesting with banners and placards at the distance of 100 meters from the official independence day function. so far they are not arrested.
Independence day function is marked to observe the change of flags on 15 August 1947 wherein officially British rule in India came to an end. Goa however was under Portuguese rule that continued till December 1961 under the patronage of the caste and class elites engaged in mining business.
However though British colonial rule formally ended colonial structure of exploitation remained intact. There are several laws dealing with land acquisition, Penal code, etc continued in free India making Independence only relative category.
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?”
I had been to Vanxim (Capao) island almost ten years ago with Joel D'souza and together we had done a story. It was beautiful and mesmerizing. The story is till available online if you click here. It was still enchanting and appealing today when I visited the island today August 8, 2010 with the team of around 15 people from all over Goa. But there was a difference. The island had turned into a commodity, property. Ten years ago it was a homeland of the 80 odd or so islanders. Today vocabulary had changed and it is aptly described in a letter written by Fr. Victor Rodrigues, Procurator, Archdiocese of Goa to Mahendra Gaunekar, chief broker and architecture drop out besides son in law of Architect Kurade of Aldea de Goa in Bambolim-Nauxi. In the subject itself of this letter dated 10th November 2009 states "Ref: immovable property - Vanxi at Capao." Church very clearly has been co-opted in the capitalist economy. This was a letter that first time gave a sense that I had run into more than a conventional social problem that can be solved with some quick-fixes. His letter was revealing. Here is a complete text of the same:
"Dear Gaunekar,
As we were re-arranging our records, files and documents in our office, we came across some notices issued by the mamlatdar to us under the Goa Agricultural Tenancy Act in respect of the above mentioned property.
We immediately applied for the certified copies of the relevant papers to the mamlatdar which are received on 4th Novemeber, 2009.
Since the said property has already been sold to you we enclose herewith the said papers received by us to enable you to initiate appropriate steps is so desired."
This letter first time gave me a sense that land has been sold to Gaunekar.
Then further investigation revealed further details: One lakh eighty five thousand square meters of land is sold by the church to Gaunekar on February 11 2006 at the rate of Rs.20/- per square meter. Total value paid to the church in this transaction is Rupees thirty seven lakh two thousand and five hundred.
In another separate transaction total land of 74.16 Acres (three lakh two hundred and seventy five square meters) belonging to Patriarchate of East Indies, the Church was sold via registered deed of Transfer and Assignments of rights on the same date February 11 2006. This time Church was paid Rs. 18,01,650/-. Fr. Arlino de Mello - attorney of Patriarch of East Indies Rt.Rev. Felipe Neri Ferrao - has signed the official documents at the sub-registrar, Ilhas. The other party is of course Mahendra Gaonekar.
The total land amounts to 4,85,275 square meters. For this land on record church has received total of Rs. 55,04,150/-. So here we have a deal. Church selling entire Vanshi (Capao) island to a broker Mahendra Gaonekar.
It is now a matter of history as to what Church in Goa did in 2005. On the one side it propped up Goa Bachao Abhiyan and put in its might behind it to force the government to retract on plans get RP 2011, on the other side it parleyed with broker Mahendra Gaounekar to crystallize the deal in 2006 February 11! No one can beat Church in its diplomacy! It's 2000 years of experience is at work here for sure.
And this is not all. Mahendra Gaonekar received his reward from the massive economic interests involved here to set up tourism villas, golf course and amusement park - Ozone Propex Private limited based at No.38, Ulsoor Road, Bangalore - Rs.30 crores as security deposit. So besides being sole inheritor of wealth massive riches of his father-in-law Kurade from Cuncolim - not only from mushroom trade but also from all the tribal and otherwise in legal possession in post colonial Goa - this is an additional bumper crop. Unconfirmed reports point out that it is business tycoon in kingfisher beer trade Vijay Mallya who is behind all this. Vijay Mallya has already has investments in beer factory in Ponda taluka of Goa and real estate in Candolim.
So its interesting cocktail of alliance between traditional caste-class elites of Goa: Church and merchant capitalists - brahmins with mega capitalists interests of India that can afford to pay Rs. 30 crores as security deposits. Many decades ago Frantz Fanon wrote in his famous book "The Wretched of the Earth" that the newly freed colonies would be turned into neo-colonies via tourism investments. This is so amply true in case of Vanxim (Capao) island in Mandovi river.
Villagers had settled land records according to the Mundcar Act as well as Tenancy Act. Now villagers are lifted to the office of Bicholim deputy collector and negative declarations made to sign under co-ersion and ignorance. Well church is not doing this. It is the agents of the brokers who are doing this. Church only sold the land at twenty rupees and thought it will go scot-free.
Land titles needs to be drastically changed: villagers must be legally deprived of their titles to land if the crores of investment must see the day of light and make sure that globes rich and famous begins their jaunts on Vanxi island in near future. This process has began. Villagers are served with notices from the office of Collector after stable land titles for a decade and half! Even people from Vanxi who works in Mumbai are made to make special trips to Goa only to appear before the hearing on these cases. This is at a time when law commission of Goa headed by Ramakant Khalap has recommended that all the mundcar and tenancy cases be upgraded to full-fledged ownership. But these trends in Vanxi is clearly designed by Church-capitalist nexus towards accumulation of wealth through dispossession of the same from people. Currently it is with people of Vanxi and various techniques including the State offices like Collector, deputy collector of Bicholim and inducted to serve this purpose.
Church is Goa too is headed by an Archbishop and he cares a hoot if Vanxi people are rendered homeless. He can very easily get some nuns and priests to do more charity after people from here are thrown into the gutter. It may even make few people saints. Church has a history full of instances. Brazalian Archbishop once famously remarked "When I serve the poor I am called saint. When I ask why poor I am called a communist!" I wonder what Goa's Archbishop has to say now when he had committed sinful blunder by selling off the island to few merchants of death, death to the Vanxim villagers? Is he aware and conscious what what he has done? I condemn this totally, unequivocally.
If the church in Goa profess to stand in the side of justice then this alliance with the oppressors is totally unexplainable. One side it has deputed full time priest and full time office for Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) and on the other hand involves itself in these nasty and dangerous action putting lives of entire people of Vanxi into danger? To whom is Archbishop of Goa going to confess your sins to? I sincerely feel Church in Goa is like a headless chicken that has lost all the brains and common sense.
Yet this is a beautiful example of secularism: Catholic and Hindu uniting together for a common purpose - to sell Vanxim island and put its residents and their future generations into grave risk. Perhaps it is co-incident that both the buyer and seller of the island - Archbishop as well as Mahindra Gaunekar are brahmins with common intention. One catholic brahmin sells the land to his fellow hindu brahmin at Rs.20/- per square meter. I paid Rs. 35/- today to take my decent vegetarian lunch. Land sold is cheaper than my lunch! In Panjim rate of land is Rs. 18,000/- per square foot. Not sure it was a gift or more money has exchanged hands off he record. After all Gaunekar has received Rs.30 crores it is unlikely that Church would satisfy itself with Rs.55,04,150/- unless Gaunekar has bullied the Archbishop.
This is second second church scandal that I have came across involving land of Santa Monica society. The first scandal took away land of tribal people in Dulapi and Mangado in Tiswadi and today stand Syngenta pesticides factory that is clicking time bomb that will take in its stride even the Old Goa world famous churches.
Why do church in Goa goes on getting into these scandals? After deep pondering I come the conclusion that Goa has entered into the era of neo-colonialism. The days of social problems are over. Just like Church came to Goa with Portuguese Colonialism, it is today very strong ally of new colonialism whose aim is all round exploitation and expropriation. What is happening in Vanxim (Capao) is exactly this. Church will have to make up its mind if it wants to continue siding with the neo-colonial forces hoping that traditional fear and respect it enjoy is going to overshadow these shady and shameful deeds or go in for drastic overhaul and reverse its alliances and go for full fledged committed alliance with the exploited by pushing for cancelling of the sale documents? Option lies before the church authorities themselves. If it does not reverse its position then it will be turning itself into an object of ridicule every time it speaks of justice. Action is louder than words. Goa's articulate and suave Archbishop would do well to learn this if he does not know as of now.
Any case irrespective of what the church decides the confusion is eroding rapidly. It is no longer a problem of corruption alone, land rights alone, ecology alone. It is a problem of power. It is a problem of tiny minority in Goa all out to sell Goa on a platter. It can be challenged with all the strategies needed to counter neo-colonialism. And today I saw the glimpse of this already. Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvott (GXE) representative there declared protest at the Lohia Maidan for 15 August 2010. Goa's freedom movement against neo-colonialism has arrived in its twilight. It will become stronger and bolder as morning descends and sun begins to shine bright in the day. People of Vanxim are the children of this twilight of yearnings of freedom and my salute and support to them from the deepest bottom of my heart! I commit myself in their struggle. Their struggle is my struggle too.
Today there were several people from all over Goa who came to support Vanxim villagers. There was GAKUVED President Durgadas Gaonkar outlined history of Santa Monica since 1710 in relation to getting land under their control. He expressed support to the struggling people. he also shared as to how their agricultural land in Dulapi and Mangado had been similarly handed over to industry - Ciba of India limited after being held by Santa Monica Society.
Ida Coutinho of GXE spoke about how villagers in Salcete coast has been cheated by hoteliers and real estate and asked Vanxim people not to fall prey to land sharks. Diego Francis Rodrigues from Terekhol, Pernem in his speech declared that Mudcar law and Tenancy laws are meant for the protection of people and Revenue department is all out to rob people's land title to give them to land sharks. He said that tenancy lands cannot be sold and that why instruments such as MoU, Agreements, and Power of Attorney is used to circumvent the hurdles of land transfer. He pointed out that already 42,000 mundkar cases and 57,000 tenancy cases are languishing in various courts in the State of Goa, and Law Commission chairman Ramakant Khalap has recommended that this be upgraded to full fledged ownership status by December 2012. Dilip Hegde, President of GXE declared his support to the struggle of Vanxim people. Sebastian Rodrigues, Convenor of GOAMAP identified various actors in the great sale of Vanxi island and declared support to the struggle. Number of villagers also spoke. One declared "we need Vanxi to die here". Second one crossed him "If we are driven away from here then how are we going to be able to die here?". "We will make sure that island remains with us to die and also future generations to live" replied the elder man of the village. "We will die while we fight together, we are ready for this". "We are against sand extraction that is going on in Mandovi river very close to the island."
This meeting was just outside the Vanxim Church and was well attended by the villagers. I noticed at least some fear from the few faces had disappeared from the faces of those present. The fear because it is the head of their catholic faith Archbishop himself had sold their land for peanuts. This is an insult as well as shock at the same time. Religion had made them so fearful and unquestioning and now they have to survive only with fearlessness and questing authorities - however mighty and powerful they may be. Church has aligned itself with neo-colonial forces and there is something as drastic in the worldview as the earth shaking volcano. I noticed it when I was there amongst the people in Vanxim.
Even though I shared good respect to Archbishop Felipe Neri Ferrao over the past 18 years I though I have a bigger responsibility to stand up for Truths and Justice. I leave it up to the Universe and History to judge me. I need to side with the truth and justice with all my might with scant respect for the consequences that may follow. Truth is what Jesus stood for. Jesus preached Kingdom. Church preaches Jesus. It has forgotten who Jesus is. Otherwise Church would not have sold Vanxim Island. For how much worth Judas had sold Jesus? Jesus can be re-discovered amongst the exploited like the Vanxi people. He seldom enters Palaces like the one that Archbishop lives in.
Mazya Govyachya Bhumit” literary translation of which comes to “In My Goan Land” a book in Marathi language written by Pudhari local daily editor Shri Prabhakar Dhage which is compilation of thoughts pertaining to Goa, which the author presented in different chapter. Through the Book the author present different issues which are crucial and affects Goa.
In his first chapter “The Cuncolim Revolt” the author highlights that the Cuncolim Revolt which took place in 1583 is the first revolt against the European in the History of India. However he says that as the history is written by the rulers, there is no mentioned about the Cuncolim Revolt anywhere in the history of India. The authors says that it is a revolt to preserve the religious and Cultural identity of Goans.
Through the Chapter “problem of Emigration” the author says it result in change in social, Religious, Economic, cultural aspect of Goan Society. When both parents works abroad then it affect the family bond and directly affect the life of children.
In the chapter “Dudhsagar is danger” the author highlights that the existence of the world famous tourist spot of Goa Dudhsagar is in danger as there is a plan from the Karnataka Government to divert the water of Katla and Palona river to kali river which are the tributary of Dudhsagar . If Karnataka Government succeeds in its plan then the Dudhsagar will die once for all. The rampant cutting of trees by timber lobby, builder, railway contractor also endangers the water fall states the author further. The tourist or visitors who visits the Dudhsager are responsible for endangering the life of the Monkeys over their, as the monkey are provided with artificial food by the visitors such as biscuit, banana the monkey loss their habits of searching for food though the area is full of natural food for the monkey, as a result in the tourist off season the monkey dies of starvation.
In the chapter “The Baina Problem has really solved?” After the Baina demolition drive taken up by the then BJP government the prostitution problem did which Baina was facing did not solve but it aggravated as after the demolition, the prostitution concentrated at Baina spread different parts of Goa. The author says that Goa is known for its prostitution in reported by an Italian Voyager way back in 1666.
“Goan Sea getting rough” the author says tourist are attracted to Goa because of the beaches. The tourism department which promotes tourism for 365 days don’t have any concrete plan to protect Goan beaches. The rampant cutting of mangroves, marvels, release of hazardous waste from the industries and hotels, endangers the sea. If it continues the future of Goan beaches and seashore is in danger warns the author.
In the chapter “Police losing their credibility” the author says that the Goan police works as per the whims and fences of their political bosses. Citing the example of lifting Minister Philip Neri Rodrigues from the Assembly the author says due to political blessing the police ready to do any thing. Only those police have political backing are being promoted. The author further says that there is a nexus between real estate developer, politician, police , bureaucrats including those appointed from Delhi and other intellectual to sell Goa to outsiders for their selfish gains.
“ Goan Cherapunji is thirsty of development” This chapter starts with, still rural India is being ruled from the cities. The author terms Netraveli of Sanguem taluka is a Goan Cherapunji but is faces water problem during summer season. The problem of water which these area faces is due of mining that are going on in those area. There is wide scope for developing eco tourism, Nature club, krushi tourism, to generate sustainable development and employment opportunities to the local youth but the government is list bother about the same. The government is not bothered to develop ecotourism in those areas it want to promote mining. The author highlights how the mining companies who are all out to loot Goa make false propaganda that if mining stops people in mining areas will die out of starvation. Proving this propaganda to be false and misleading the author highlight that after the stop of mining in Netravali after its declaring as wild life sanctuary in 1999 the people residing there in are now living therein with more dignity then before when mining was going on.
There are also other chapters which deal with other vital issues affecting Goa and Goans. Those who know Marathi language should read this book.
This site on the banks of Mandovi in Naroa, Bicholim, Goa where controversy has erupted over the location of illegal construction of dockyard for iron ore handling. For more information click here.
Tottewada in Narve coast, Bicholim is under attack. All together six ships were found to be illegally docked in an effort to create dockyard for handling of iron ore. For detail story on click here.
Sanghmitra Mainkar, who's from the heavily mined area of Bicholim in Goa, reports how miners dump waste into the beautiful river Mandovi. Although this is illegal, it's being carried on in broad daylight, polluting main water supply channels to critical levels! click here for video.
Few days ago on July 30 2010 people from Panchwadi filed objections to the land acquisition notice to build road for mining purpose.
Special roads for mining are designed to be constructed to make fast profits for the handful of mining companies that includes merchants from Goa and one British company Vedanta that owns Sesa Goa and Dempo mining companies assets. Vendanta is known for its bad environmental records and perhaps that's why Dempos found a business sense in selling its mining assets to Vedanta. So much Dempos love for Goa! To sell Goa, to loot Goa, to exploit Goa, to make crores of rupees at the cost of Goa's soil and then to indulge in grand acts of philanthropy to keep itself amongst Goa's ruling elites. Other mining companies are no different they are all the birds of same feathers that flock together.
People of Panchwadi deserves to be congratulated for unitedly filing over 600 objections second time during the last few months. Earlier too government had issued land acquisition notice and people of Panchwadi had filed large number of objections. Then government suddenly changed its position and issued another land acquisition notice that over ruling the first one with slight modifications. Perhaps government was testing the patience of the protesting villagers!
For the first time on August 14 2010 people in Goa will have an opportunity to participate in Carbon Footprint Analysis (CFA) to be conducted by Scientist Sagar Dhara from Cerana Foundation, Hyderabad. The workshop will be held at Caritas Hall, St. Inez, Panjim. People those wish to participate must confirm their participation to any of the phone number: 9623770690, 9423883169, 9881191328, and 9923336347.
Participants are required to come with a notebook, pen and a calculator. The workshop is jointly organized and supported by Nature Environment Society and Transformations (NEST), Daily Pudhari, Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvot (GXE), Dhulapi Nagrik Kriti Samiti (DNKS), and Goa Federation of Mines Affected People (GOAMAP).
This is a one day hands – on workshop meant to equip participants with the basic tools of how to compute carbon footprint for individuals and organizations and interpret the results.
Carbon footprint is an indicator of the amount of greenhouse gases produced by human activity and is expressed in kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2).
It is an indicator of the contribution a good or service, an individual, organization, a geographical area or a nation makes to global warming.
CFA is a very good method for raising public awareness about environmental issues as it allows the public to makes informed decisions about the priority areas that need to be addressed – both lifestyle and institutional change. CFA results can be easily understood by common people, and therefore it has gained public acceptability.
CFA is also a good educational tool as computations can be made with varying levels of complexity. The simpler versions can be used by secondary school children upwards.
CFA is a universal tool that can be applied to any product, person, organization or area anywhere in the world, and the results of such applications can be compared. CFA can be used to verify claims such as eco- friendly and sustainable development.
Several important policy issues can be better understood by understanding carbon footprint. A central part of the debate in the recent COP15 meet at Copenhagen and in the world revolves around historical and current per capita carbon footprints in developed and developing nations.
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.
