Nilesh Naik - Goa's first green martyr remembered

Nilesh Naik was gunned down by Goa Police on 23rd January 1995. He sacrificed his life in chasing out American Corporate DuPont's Nylon 6,6 wanting to get established on Ponda taluka's Keri Village's Bhutkamb Plateau. Nilesh was 3 months short of his 25th Birthday when he bravely took police bullets on his chest. The above picture is memorial in his honour at Bhutkamb, Keri.

Two elderly women - one of them is a mother of Rekha Gawde that was also shot and injured in the same police firing - offering floral tribute to Nilesh Naik on January 23, 2009. The other woman is Gunavati Gawde.

Convener of SEZ Virodhi Manch Charles Fernandes addressing the meeting on the occasion.

Keri Panchayat member spoke at the memorial service.

Swati Kerker from Keri paid rich tributes to Nilesh Naik.

Ramesh Gauns asked people from Keri to be in the forefront of movements in Goa today. He said sacrifice of Nilesh Naik will no be in vain and he will continue to be inspiration force for the future struggles in Goa.

One minute silence was kept to pay homage to the sacrifice of Nilesh Naik.

Ramkirishna Jalmi and GOAMAP Convener Sebastian Rodrigues also shared their views on the occasion.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Goa continues to bleed due to mining

In spite of recession Goa continues to bleed out its mountains due to mining. This picture of mining barge in Mandovi river near Khandola village in Ponda Taluka. Though miners use the Mandovi river more than anyone else they are not bother to protest diversion of it by Karnataka government.

Mining is rapidly galloping State of Goa. Political leadership has become completely impotent to lead Goa out of the mining rot. Global rising upper and middle class is too responsible for Goa's route towards dissapearing from the World Map. It is crazy in consuming metals recklessly.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Fire has gripped Goa's forest, mining to follow

This is burned portion of Forest at Matt, Sarmanas in Bicholim taluka. Mining to follow this soon. There is large scale mining going on in the vicinity by Dempo Mining Corporation.

View of the burnt forest from Mandovi river.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Bicholim's Mining Silt in water bodies

Do come and tour Goa's mining belt. Take the message of Goa's suffering across the World. Goa's mining industry must be exposed continuously. We need your support and collaboration.

Above pictures shows mining silt from Dempos beneficiation Plant released besides the road in Bicholim. Its dirt released after washing ore and sent for exports.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Mining threatens Sirgao Agriculture

Mining continues to be major threat to Goa's agriculture. The above picture is from Sirgao village in Bicholim Taluka few months ago.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Scheduled tribes settlements in Goa

This Map shows only Gawda, Kunbi and Velip Settlements. Dhangar settlements are excluded. (Sourced from Goa Government Population Survey of 2004). New survey is currently underway after GAKUVED pointed errors in the first. Large number of names were omitted from the Survey.

Mining Lease Map of Goa

Goa's Ministry of Mines and Geology functions in absolute non transparent manner. Till date it does not even have website of its own. Public are denied basic information regarding mining industry in Goa. It is the mining companies, politicians and few Geologists employed with the mining ministry are enjoying exclusive access to information.

It is not yet known as to in the era of information technology why the Ministry that is headed by Goa chief Minister does not have website of its own. Mining lease Map of Goa looks dangerous. Here we put this important map online so that you can access it by clicking the following links:

http://www.openspaceforum.net/twiki/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=17&postId=566

It is hoped that department of Mines and Geology will give up its archaic ways of functioning and would soon make the statement of transparency in pro-active manner by putting the information regarding mining in Goa online. As long as it does not do it then it is an evidence by itself that it has many things things to hide.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Goa's Geographical Cross-Sections

Goa's Geography is uniquely shaped. To the east are majestic Sahydrian Watershed, in the middle are Plateaus, at the Coast are Flood Plains/Alluvial Flats and to the Exterem West is Arabian Sea. Water from Sahyaris Watershed are major source of water to the entire state of Goa. Mining leases are concentrated in Plateau region thereby causing major disruption of the water flow. (Diagram sourced from the book "Fish Curry and Rice" published by Goa Foundation, Mapusa.)

River basin Map of Goa

This is a River basin Map of Goa. Minng leases are already causing havoc to Goa's rivers even as government authorities decisively shirk away from their responsibilities to protect Goa's rivers. (Map is sourced from the book "Fish, Curry and Rice" published by Mapusa based Goa Foundation.)

Mining expansion proposal as per Regional Plan 2011

Even though Regional Plan 2011 is withdrawn, on ground mining scenario does not seems to be changing. It continues to play havoc. The above picture is the projection for mining expansion. Black markers indicated current mining then. Red patches indicates enormous projects of mining expansions. Mining is shown right to the interiors of Forests that includes Wildlife Sanctuaries.

(Picture taken from "Sweet Land of Mine" by Alvares and Saha published in 2008 by Goa Foundation based in Mapusa)