Niyamgiri resolutions against Vedanta

Joint Resolution passed at the
Solidarity Convention for Anti-Mining and Land Rights Struggle in Niyamgiri

10 October 2009, New Delhi

Demanding immediate scrapping of mining permission and ensure protection of peoples’ rights to land, forests, culture, and livelihoods in Niyamgiri, Orissa, India

As recently as 5 October 2009, more than 3000 adivasis, dalits, and others, gathered in Muniguda town at the foothills of the Niyamgiri Mountains in Orissa, blocking the highway for several hours. Amidst heavy police deployment and Vedanta’s goons, they were thundering with slogans what they have been asserting for more than five years by now: We will not let Niyamgiri – our lifeline and sacred mountain – be mined, come what may
!
This was only one of the many expressions of the people to resist Vedanta’s refinery at Lanjigarh and bauxite mining on Niyamgiri. They have been militantly resisting the destruction of their forests, the fragmentation of their community, the decimation of their culture and religious beliefs, the loss of their livelihoods. On 27 January 2009, over 10,000 men, women, and children formed a 17-kilometre-long human chain around the Niyamgiri Mountains, holding placards that said: Niyamgiri is Dongria land! Vedanta cannot come here without our permission. We say NO!
We the undersigned completely endorse the demands of the adivasi, dalit, and other communities who have lived in and of Niyamgiri for generations and extend all-out solidarity to their struggle in protecting the mountains and the forests, which rightfully belong to them. We also support their democratic, militant resistance to forced grabbing of their land and resources and their fight to reclaim the land already grabbed by the Vedanta Alumina Ltd for its refinery plant.
We strongly condemn the ongoing brutal repression people’s resistance in Niyamgiri is facing everyday by company goons, police, and the state administration. The state criminally abdicated from all its democratic responsibilities of protecting rights to life, dignity, and livelihoods. We deplore the government’s coercive tactics to ram its neo-liberal brand of ‘development’ down people’s throats, while decimating in glory a self-reliant economy of the people, a self-sustaining ecology, rich biodiversity, and dense virgin forests in Niyamgiri—only to ensure profits of a company that is already disgraced worldwide for unleashing environmental havoc and direct human-rights abuse wherever they operate.

We have been closely following all that is unfolding around Vedanta’s ambitious plans in Niyamgiri, hand-in-gloves with the Naveen Patnaik government in Orissa and the UPA government at the centre—the flouting of rules and norms by both the state government and the MoEF in awarding all the required clearances to the company; the way the Supreme Court of India handled the case against Vedanta; the slavish approach of the pollution control board by blatantly ignoring untold environmental and health hazards Vedanta’s refinery has already caused; the misuse of the entire police force by employing it only for the company’s purpose and for silencing any voice of dissent; and, above all, the utter disregard of the company for the rule of the land that it fearlessly displays by cutting down thousands of trees at will, building roads without permission, releasing toxic effluents to the Vamsadhara river, clamping down people to death at will with its errant vehicles, and terrorizing local people by employing hundreds of goons in and around Lanjigarh.
We condemn the Naveen Patnaik government in Orissa, overtly supported by the Union Government from New Delhi, for acting just as an obedient, profit-ensuring ‘agent’ for Vedanta and other mining and metal companies and mindlessly selling the state’s natural resources for a song, and also creating an unprecedented state of terror in the people through brutal repressive measures to the extent of branding democratic voices of dissent as Maoists in several instances.
The ecological significance of the Niyamgiri Mountains – with dense forests, hundreds of perennial water streams, rich biodiversity, and the environmentally responsible economic practices of the Dongria Kondhs and other adivasis and dalit communities – is, in fact, evident in the fact that the whole region falls under a Fifth Scheduled area, which means people’s lives and the ecology of the region should not be tampered with at any cost, let alone using it for the highly environmentally devastating aluminium industry! Moreover, with the impending disaster that is awaiting the planet, in the form of global warming, in which communities that live primarily on nature are the worst affected – and India has a vast population of these categories – India, by sheer commonsense, cannot afford to push further in the name of development such industries that are the primary cause of the impending crisis. And, it cannot even afford to torment and decimate those very people who have kept alive nature’s invaluable resources for ages, thereby keeping alive the planet.

Niyamgiri is the traditional home to the Dongria Kondhs; its foothills are inhabited by other Kondh communities and dalits ...and they all have due rights over the land, forests, and water there. Their lives, livelihoods, and cultures cannot be bartered for corporate profits and a minuscule short-term financial gain for the state.

Therefore, in solidarity with the people’s struggle in Niyamgiri and towards conserving the rich ecological heritage of the area, we demand the following:

1. Immediately scrap the MoU signed by the Government of Orissa and Vedanta/Sterlite for the latter’s mining and refinery projects in Niyamgiri
2. Immediately shut down the refinery at Lanjigarh, and award the local people who have suffered due to the coming-up of the plant and its activities with adequate compensation, in terms of land, money, and all civic amenities

3. Immediately put in place effective and measurable systems of health services in and around Niyamgiri—a constitutional duty the state has so far criminally abdicated from. This is an unconditional duty of the state, and not of any corporation in exchange of people’s livelihoods and cultures.
4. Revoke all the clearances already given to Vedanta/Sterlite for its project in Niyamgiri
5. Stop any processes to clear the pending clearances
6. Declare Niyamgiri a permanent ‘no-mining zone’
7. Drop all legal/criminal cases registered against people of the area for voicing their dissent
8. Investigate cases on attacks against people by the company goons and the police.
9. Allow people of the Niyamgiri area to exercise their rights to choice, livelihoods, and lifestyles
10. Revoke all kinds of forest diversions made so far to make way for mining in Niyamgiri violating the rights of people under PESA and the Forest Rights Act, 2006

***
[The Convention was organized by: Lok Raj Sangathan, Kashipur Solidarity Group, AIPWA, CPI(ML)–Liberation, PSU, Peoples' Political Front, MKSS, NAPM, NFFPFW, Delhi Platform, Kalpavriksh, AISF, AISA, Other Media, Delhi Forum, Kriti, PUCL, Intercultural Resources, PUDR, Harit Swaraj Abhiyan, Lokayan, Pratidhwani, AAAA—Alliance of Academics, Artists and Activists (JNU),
SAHELI, and many other groups and individuals…

…and was attended by more than 200 people, including students, academics, writers, lawyers, activists, journalists, and representatives of several civil-rights groups, organizations, forums, and platforms.]

Violent resistent to Vedanta's Sesa Goa at Condli, Goa

According to headlines in marathi daily in Goa 'Gomantak' today there has been violent clashes between police giving protection to Sesa Goa's mines at Condli, Goa and the Usgao villagers yesterday. 157 people including women are arrested. 7 mining trucks has been stoned. Sesa Goa mining company is owned by British multinational corporate - Vedanta.

Central order could clip GPSCB wings

The Goa State Pollution Control Board may find it difficult to issue show cause notices to erring units or mines, infrastructural projects including those in Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) areas as per an office order issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

State Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira said the order was received by him on Saturday and the same had been sent to the legal department for its opinion. However, he cleared without elaborating “whatever actions GSPCB had initiated so far will be carried on”.

Sources said the order from the Central government may make it difficult for GSPCB to issue show-cause notices to erring mines that have obtained environmental clearances but failed to get forest clearances. When the question was put to the board’s Chairman Simon de Souza, he said they had met the environment minister regarding the order and the same was being studied by legal experts. We will know where we stand may be after two to three days, he stated.

The order, received by the board on Friday evening, was issued on September 30, 2009. It states that the monitoring cell in the impact assessment division was the nodal point for monitoring compliances of stipulated conditions while granting environmental clearance.

Sources said if the order is looked at closely, the State pollution control boards all over India will have little or no power to act against erring industries or projects. The order states the State boards have to bring to the notice of regional office any non-compliance of environmental clearance conditions and then the next course of action would be taken by the appropriate authorities.

The order has laid down procedures to be adopted for invoking legal action and issuance of direction under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection Act), 1986.

It states the issue of show-cause notices without proposing closure of units/projects will be subject to approval of additional secretary in-charge, IA Div and show-cause notices for closure will have to be approved by the secretary (environment and forests).

It makes a note: “Cases involving policy implications or other sensitivities would be brought to the notice of Ministry of Environment and Forests.”

The order has been issued with the approval of the minister of State (independent charge) for environment and forests.

Sources said copies of the order have been addressed to regional offices of MoEF, chairman of Central Pollution Control Board, State boards and others , but the same has not been made available to coastal zone management associations.

Herald October 13 2009, Panaji

CANACONA – a sign of times to come

By Bevinda Collaco in Herald - Insight October 11, 2009 Panaji
bevindac@yahoo.com

Canacona shows us the writing on the wall for Goa. For a few years now, people of this beleaguered taluka have been warning anyone who could listen, that the three major rivers of Canacona were a disaster waiting to happen. They said that the ecological imbalances in the region had led to the narrowing of the three rivers at Saleri, Galgibaga and Talpona. They asked the authorities to listen. No one did.

Like most problems facing Goa today, which anger one half of the population and have the other half on the defensive, the cause is tourism or mining or both. In the lovely, sleepy taluka of Canacona with its forested hills, gentle rivers and beautiful beaches, the horror that unfolded with a killer flood of two-and-a-half meters height was as unexpected as the sight of a dead buffalo hanging upright with its forelegs through the middle of a tree.

With the rivers narrowed and siltled up, the water made nonsense of the rivers. The flash flood broke banks, bunds and nullahs taking houses, plantations, animals and people along with it. Sheer luck, presence of mind and bravery of the Canaconkars themselves, who risked their owned lives to save themselves, who risked their own lives to save others, kept the human death toll at two. Animals were not as lucky.

Could it have been avoided? Locals say that age-old farming practices have been abandoned without a thought to the gradual death of the rivers. Traditional farmers used to remove the silt which accumulated during the monsoon from the river banks and used it in their orchards. Now they use artificial fertilizer and let the silt accumulate. Weeds grow on the silt and narrow the width of the river. Worse, with tourism, farming has been abandoned by most families. Instead land has been sold and developed. Khazan lands have been filled up and river banks now have constructions instead of plantations.

I have a special fondness for Canacona because I used to travel with a team of my colleagues to get stories from there. And what stories! How an entire village was sold decades ago to a hotel owner in North Goa and how they are still fighting a losing battle in court. We met Querobina who was 102 years young with sparse salt ‘n pepper hair, and all her teeth intact. She told us wryly that she drank beer, ate pork, and smoked cheroots that had her youngest son in his late 60s gagging. She died tow years later.

We met a Dhangar freedom fighter who was educated in jail by another Brahmin freedom fighter Vishwanath Lawande, who shared his cell. The Dhangar settlement was neatly laid out with cool thatched houses, goats grazing and an unending supply of tender coconuts. Our freedom fighter claimed to be older than Querobina but had no written proof of it. He also told us he shot 300 tigers. It was kill or be killed because he used to carry letters hidden in tins of nachni, from Goa’s freedom fighters over the hills through dense jungle to a designated tree trunk in Karnataka where compatriots would collect the letters and bring some of their own.

As far back as 2001, locals said it was almost impossible to identify the existence of the river Saleri, as heavy weed infestation had taken over major portions of the river.

We met some wonderful people there. Canaconkars. They are different from us fast changing urban Goans of the rest of Goa. One could say the locals of Canacona are original Goans; gentle, warm, resourceful. They have a rich culture steeped in centuries of tradition. Yet they have been cursed with a baffling kidney disease that attacks sometimes entire families or at least one family member.

I learned all this almost 10 years ago. I plan to go this week to Canacona, not to get stories this time, but to lend a hand. I can cook, I can clean, I can sew, I can make people laugh and I can write. I can definitely help to remove stones from paddy fields. Maybe some of these qualities can come in handy. Clearing up the fields and getting them ready for planting again is going to be a long process. I wish Querobina was still around, but then again, it’s good thing she left before she could see the horror unfold.

Cortalim locals want resurvey of SC, ST, OBC population

The Cortalim-Quelossim gram sabha on Sunday demanded resurvey of ST, SC and OBC and disabled population conducted by OBC Commission.

Censuring the survey, ST leader and former Cortalim sarpanch Antonio Francisco Fernandes said that the survey conducted in Cortalim and Quelossim had glaring blunders and gave an instance, where many families who are non-ST were classified as ST members.

Fernandes also claimed that apart from some houses of other wards, two wards - Church Street and Consua, both in Cortalim, were not covered at all by the survey and termed as a sham.

Fernandes demanded that the responsibility be fixed for the mistakes done by the survey officials.

Fernandes also mentioned that people with surnames as Bimapapa, Chowdary were also included in the survey indicating that non-Goans were also included in the survey list and regretted that the survey did not identify any disabled person despite the fact of many disabled villagers residing in the villages of Cortalim and Quelossim.

Ridiculing the officials, in particular the deputy collector of Mormugao for the inordinate delay in issuing caste certificate, Fernandes alleged that Mormugao Taluka was a unique case where the ST, SC and OBC population had to go through many hurdles in getting caste certificate.

“Even after enclosing all certificates, the deputy collector sends correspondence to the Mamlatdar who in turn sends it to the talathi for conducting a report. After the report is compiled by the talathi, he sends it to Mamlatdar who again sends it to the deputy collector which as a result a lot of time is lost,” Fernandes lamented and added that in other talukas one could get a caste certificate within a week.

On the social welfare schemes, the gram sabha came down heavily on the officials present at the meeting stating that the schemes were not beneficial to the beneficiaries.

“Even educational stipends were not being paid and the students had to simply incur expenditure like swearing of affidavits, etc,” the villagers grumbled.

On the controversial assessment of house tax, the gram sabha demanded that the panchayat first pass a resolution and demanded one month’s time to follow the proper procedure as laid down in the Panchayati Raj Act before implementation the revised house tax.

The meting was presided by Deputy Sarpanch Marcelo Monteiro and was also attended by the officials of social welfare department.

Herald, October 12, 2009 Panaji

Massive deforestation in Sivsorem, Rivona, Goa

According to the reports just coming in at 10.30 am on October 09, 2009 there is ongoing massive destruction of forest in Sivsorem in order to clear way to start open cast iron ore and manganese mining. The mass scale tree cutting is going ahead in the land that is demarcated as mining lease bearing T.C. No. 75/1952 in the name of one Voicunta Canecar of Margao bearing name Chunimolo or Gotifondodatembo covering area of 88.15 hectares of land recorded as in Colamb but existing in Rivona Panchayat jurisdiction covering survey numbers 88/1, 88/2, part of 138, 139, 140, 141, 87/1 and 89.

Public Hearing required under the law was held in Sanguem town on 12/12/2006. According to the sources in Forest department that spoke to Ramesh Gaouns on the condition of anonymity they have been granted environmental clearance by Indian Central Government's Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF). One of the conservator of Forest who refused to be named spoke to Ramesh Gauns and expressed his helplessness over the destruction of forest in Goa in highly planned manner by MoEF by allotting Environmental Clearances to the mining projects in Goa's Forest Areas. He said is applying for transfer to another place in Goa as he is totally frustrated as the upright forest officers hands are tight from taking any action against mining companies.

Conservator of Forest is lucky to have an option to go to another place in the Country but what about people of Goa? Where are we to go if mining companies continue their dangerous trend of transforming this State into draught region by sucking our water bodies and destroying our Forests?

May the MoEF withdraw all the Environmental Clearances accorded to the mining companies in the State of Goa. May it be blessed by universe and have change of heart and stop showering misery on the State of Goa. May Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh be enlightened and carry forward the mission to protect Goa and its forest with all the courage and honesty.

This is humble prayer from People of Goa. If the Indian Government is so determined to see that Goa is wiped away from the World map we would surely die with smile on our face if this will satisfy sadistic pleasures of mining companies and Indian Government. Once upon a time in 1961 on 19 December Indian Government came to Goa as its liberator. Today on in 2009 on 09 October Indian government is need of liberation. May India be liberated. May everyone in this land of India live happy, live in prosperity with misery and cruelty to none - not even to Goa, not even to Jairam Ramesh.

Long live Peace! Long live Joy! Long live Happiness! Long live Liberation!

Sebastian Rodrigues

Mining trucks set to invade Quepem town again?

By John Fernandes

Quepem is a small town in South Goa, situated on the bank of Kushawati River spreading covering over an area of around 20,000 sq.mts.

Though Quepem is small town since Portuguese era (1510 - 1961). It is a main center for Quepem, Sanguem, Canacona and part of Salcete. That most of the government offices like the Quepem Municipal Council, Mamlatdar, Dy-Collector, Civil Registration, Block Development Office, Child Development office, town and country planning, Excise department, Dy. SP., Government treasury, Electricity Department, Survey Department, Telephone Exchange, Assistant Director of Transport are situated in the heart of Quepem town. As there are number of important offices in Quepem town a large number of people daily make their way to Quepem for official work. As there is inadequate parking place in the town the parking is done on the side of the main road.

A narrow National Highway passes through Quepem town. There is no by-pass road, to divert traffic from the Quepem town. Any traffic from Margao Canacona and vice versa has to pass through Quepem town . The one way narrow bridge over the Kushawati river is situated just at a distance of 100 mts from the center of the town.

That from the years 2006 transportation of mineral ore from Maina-Cavrem mines started via Quepem town on a small note. Due to the transportation of ore via Quepem town, the town started facing lot of problem like dust , traffic jam, constant accident , as years passed and boom in mining the mining transport rapidly increased and in a day 1000 of mining truck used to pass through Quepem town apart from the regular transport , which resulted in affecting the business transaction.

Presently the due to mining transport the main problem faced by the Quepem town is not only the problem overloading or over speeding but of constant traffic jam.

The first agitation raised by the Quepekar against the mining transport was on 30 March 2007 following which a meeting was called by South Goa Collector G.P. Naik in Quepem Dy-Collector on 17/4/2007. At the meeting Collector G.P.Naik assured the villagers that immediate diversion of mining transport via Quepem town will be made. However in spite of the assurances give by the Collector in 2007 the transportation of mining ore via Quepem town continued till 2009. In 2009 the mining transport via Quepem town increase in many hold which compounded the problem of dust pollution, traffic jam which intern badly affected the business community. In the same year there were constant rasta roko of mining truck in and around Quepem.

That as due to mining the town is getting affected the Bazarkars (People doing small bussiness) in May 2009 decided not to allow the transportation of mining via Quepem town from next mining season. Due to hue and cry made by the Quepem residents at the end of May 2009 Quepem MLA Shri chandrakant Kavlekar was forced to made a statement through press that No transportation if Mining will be allowed via Quepem town from the next mining season. The Quepem Municipal council on 4/6/2009 passed a resolution thereby prohibiting entry for mining truck via Quepem town. The resolution which was passed unanimously was moved by councilor Rahul Pereira and was seconded by Councillor Manuel Colaso.

As the new mining season is started it is learnt that the mining firms, mining contractor, transport operators are pressurizing the Council and the MLA to permit them to transport the or via Quepem town. In spite of the pressure from the transport lobby Quepem MLA Shri Kavlekar has not given any green signal to the transporters.

Now it is learnt that the transport operators have made a representation to the Quepem Municipal Council stating therein they be permitted to transport. It is also learnt that in the representation they mentioned that they will not overload, nor overspeed and cover the top properly. The past record of the mining transporters indicate that they have no regard to the law, but they are law unto themselves.

Now based on the representation from the Truck owners the Quepem Municipal Council (QMC) has called a council meeting on 9th October to discuss over the issue. QMC Chairperson Lydia D’Costa when contacted informed that based on the representation of truck owner the council has called a meeting on 9/10/2009 and at the meeting the council will decide over the issue.

Now from the villager of Quepem it is learnt that the QMC is planning to reverse it resolution dated 4/6/2009 and other representatives planning to reverse their statement provided their interest is taken care of. If mining transport is operate via Quepem town time will tell the fate of Quepem.

Questions and Answers with Goa Police via Motes Antao's RTI

Motesh Antao filed RTI application on 14/8/2009 with the Office of Superintendent of Police, South Goa. Goa Police attached to Quepem Police Station called him to collect the requested information on September 25, 2009 and instead arrested him on some 10 month old case for blocking road to the mining site registered against him due to complaint by the Manager at Hiralal Khodidas iron ore mine at Colamb, Sanguem operated by Fomento mining company. Motesh was later released on bail the same day evening.

Office of the Superintendent of Police, South Goa District, Margao via their letter dated 10/09/2009 and Office of Director General of Police, PHQ, Panaji served him replies. In Public Interest we reproduce the Questions asked and answers received them from Police Authorities are marked in Green. The questions that police replied as information 'not available', are marked in Yellow.

Police basically gave all the information asked for except about movable and immovable assets held and about police officials business ties with mining industry. Its not available on records!

1. Give me the following below mentioned details of then P.I. of Quepem Shri Santosh Dessai , present working as P.I. of Margao town P.S.

(a) In which year Santosh Dessai has joined the police service?

Shri Santosh Dessai joined the Police Department in the year 1991.

(b) At the time of joining what was his designation?

He joined the Department as Police Sub-Inspector.

(c) The list of assets files by him at the time of joining the service?

Not available on records.

(d) Since the time of joining in the police department how many time he has been posted at Quepem?

Since the time of joining service, the details of his posting at Quepem Police Station is as under:-

From 05.04.2001 to 12.12.2002,

From 08.05.2008 to 18.02.2009

From 26.05.2009 to 15.07.2009

(e) Give me his present service address?

His present service address is Margao Town Police Station.

(f) Give me his present residential address?

His present residential address is H.No. 690, Buinsa, Cuncolim, Salcete, Goa.

(g) Give me his detail list of movable assets held by him and his family members including the movables disposed of by them?

Not available on records.

(h) Give me the detail list of Immovable assets held by him and his family members including survey number, name of the property, the village in which they are situated, including those immovables which are disposed off by them?

Not available on records.

(i) At any time departmental inquiry has been order against him? If yes then give me the details?

As per the records of O.S. DGP's office information pertaining Departmental Enquiry is Nil.

(j) During his posting as P.I. of Quepem Police station how many charge sheet he has filed against the anti-mining agitators?

NIL.

(k) Whether he or his family members owns any mining truck/tipper truck ? If yes give me their details?

Not available on records.

2. Give me the following below mentioned details of ASI of Quepem Police station Shri Prakash K.Gaonkar

(a) In which year Prakash A. Gaonkar has joined the police service?

01/09/1976.

(b) At the time of joining what was his designation?

Police Constable.

(c) The list of assets files by his at the time of joining the service?

Not Available.

(d) Since the time of joining in the police department how many times he has been posted at Quepem?

Three.

(e) Give me his present service address?

Quepem Police Station.

(f) Give me his present residential address?

H.No. 1/3, Konkem, Pirla, Quepem.

(g) Give me his detail list of movable assets held by him and his family members including the movables disposed of by them?

Not Available.

(h) Give me the detail list of Immovable assets held by him and his family members including survey number, name of the property, the village in which they are situated, including those immovable which are disposed of by them?

Not Available.

(i) At any time departmental inquiry has been order against him? If yes then give me the details?

NIL.

(j) During his posting as ASI of Quepem Police station in how many cases filed against the anti-minig agitators he is the investigating officer?

One.

(k) Whether he or his family members owns any mining truck/tipper truck ? If yes give, me their details?

Not Available.

3. Give me the following below mentioned details of HC of Quepem Police station Shri Arvind Nagekar Buckle No.3100.

(a) In which year H.C. Arvind Nagekar has joined the police service?

15/07/1981

(b) At the time of joining what was his designation?

Police Constable

(c) The list of assets files by him at the time of joining the service?

Not Available

(d) Since the time of joining in the police department how many times he has been posted at Quepem?

Three.

(e) Give me his present service address?

Quepem Police Station

(f) Give me his present residential address?

Montepio Quarter, Sanguem.

(g) Give me his detail list of movable assets held by him and his family members including the movables disposed of by them?

Not Available.

(h) Give me the detail list of Immovable assets held by him and his family members including survey number, name of the property, the village in which they are situated, including those immovable which are disposed of by them?

Not Available.

(i) At any time departmental inquiry has been order against him? If yes then give me the details?

NIL.

(j) During his posting as H.C. of Quepem Police station in how many cases filed against the anti-minig agitators he is the investigating officer?

One.

(k) Whether he or his family members owns any mining truck/tipper truck ? If yes give, me their details?

Not Available.

4. Give me the details of police officials who are working at Quepem police station for more then three years?

1. Shri P.V. Desai, A.S.I.

2. HC-3398, R.N. Bhosle.

3. HC-3136, S.S. Talekar.

4. HC-2923, C.L. Rane.

5. LHC-3741, A.A.Gaonkar.

6. LHC-3800, Y.B.Velip.

7. PC-5441, V.R.Naik.

8. PC-5557, G.S.Gaonkar.

9. PC-5703, M.J.Velip.

10. PC-5790, S.A. Gawas.

11. PC-5924, N.N. Gaonkar.

12. PC-6123, U.S. Desai.

13. PC-6127, O.A. Fernandes.

14. PC-4443, R.S. Sangodkar.

15. PC-6238, P.U. Sawant.

16. PC-4250, M.S.N. Desai.

17. PC-4121, S.A. Gosavi.

Banks that finance Vedanta

While people in Goa, Orrissa and other parts of the World are waging relentless struggle against British multinational Vedanta for their environmental crimes some banks in the world including Indian Banks such as Syndicate Bank, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, Indian Bank, Bank of Maharastra, Corporation Bank, United Bank of India, Vijaya Bank and State Bank of India - however are happy to finance Vedanta as their business venture. This is list of banks that provided loans provided to this corporate to effect expansion of its business by acquisition of new companies and towrds ruin of Goa's nature through its denounceable mining ventures.

Sonja Willems of Bank Track based in Netherlands makes this information available. Amount figures are in US dollar ($) and Euro (€).

You are requested to establish contacts with the below banks and urge them to dissociate themselves from Vedanta. In Goa Vedanta is involved in massive damage to the environment and people through its mining activities.

1.1 Loans
· In August 2005 Hindustan Zinc secured a US$ 125 million (€ 102 million) loan from a banking syndicate arranged by ABN Amro Bank (now part of Royal Bank of Scotland), Calyon (part of Crédit Agricole) and Standard Chartered Bank. Proceeds were used to refinance a US$ 125 million loan signed in October 2003. The new loan is split in three tranches with maturities of 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 years.
Nineteen banks participated in the loan. They are listed here, with respective amounts committed to the syndicate:[1]

· ABN Amro part of Royal Bank of Scotland $12.50 million € 10.2 million
· Bank of Taiwan $5.00 million € 4.1 million
· Calyon part of Crédit Agricole $12.50 million € 10.2 million
· Canara Bank $2.00 million € 1.6 million
· Cathay United Bank $6.50 million € 5.3 million
· Chang Hwa Commercial Bank $3.25 million € 2.7 million
· Chiao Tung Bank $3.25 million € 2.7 million
· DBS Bank $10.25 million € 8.4 million
· Export-Import Bank of the Republic of China $4.00 million € 3.3 million
· Hua Nan Commercial Bank $6.50 million € 5.3 million
· International Commercial Bank of China $3.25 million € 2.7 million
· Mascareignes International Bank $3.25 million € 2.7 million
· Mizuho Corporate Bank $10.00 million € 8.2 million
· National Bank of Kuwait $6.50 million € 5.3 million
· Shanghai Commercial Bank $2.00 million € 1.6 million
· Standard Chartered Bank $12.50 million € 10.2 million
· Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp $10.00 million € 8.2 million
· Sumitomo Trust & Banking $8.50 million € 6.9 million
· Syndicate Bank $3.25 million € 2.7 million

· In March 2006, Sterlite Industries secured a Japanese Yen loan facility with a total value of US$ 92.6 million (€ 77.1 million) from ICICI Bank, Calyon (part of Crédit Agricole) and Standard Chartered Bank. The facility consisted of two different tranches: a US$ 67.6 million (€ 56.3 million) tranche repayable in June 2007 to repay the June 2004 loan and a US$ 25 million (€ 20.1 million) tranche repayable in September 2008 to repay a US$ 25 million loan secured in September 2003.[2] The estimated contribution of Calyon is:

· Calyon, part of Crédit Agricole US$15 million € 12.5 million


· In April 2007 Vedanta Resources acquired a 51% controlling stake in the Indian iron ore mining company Sesa Goa and made a bid for another 20%. Total investment was US$ 1,370 million (€ 1,015 million). The acquisition was financed in July 2007 by a one-year bridge loan of US$ 1,100 million (€ 815 million) and existing cash resources. The bridge loan was arranged by ABN Amro Bank (now part of Royal Bank of Scotland), Barclays, Citigroup and ICICI Bank.[3]
Fifteen banks participated in the syndicate, which was signed in August 2007. Names and contributions to the loan are as follows: [4]

· ABN Amro, part of Royal Bank of Scotland US$ 75 million € 56 million
· Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank US$ 100 million € 75 million
· Bank of Baroda US$ 75 million € 56 million
· Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ US$ 73 million € 55 million
· Barclays US$ 75 million € 56 million
· BNP Paribas US$ 75 million € 56 million
· Calyon, part of Crédit Agricole US$ 75 million € 56 million
· Citigroup US$ 75 million € 56 million
· DBS Bank US$ 75 million € 56 million
· DZ Bank US$ 25 million € 19 million
· Fortis Bank, now part of BNP Paribas US$ 75 million € 56 million
· ICICI Bank US$ 77 million € 57 million
· Mizuho US$ 75 million € 56 million
· Société Générale US$ 75 million € 56 million
· Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp US$ 75 million € 56 million


· In August 2008, Vedanta Resources secured a US$ 1 billion (€ 642 million) five-year loan. The loan is used to refinance the US$ 1.1 billion acquisition loan that Vedanta took out in 2007 to help fund the purchase of a 51% stake in Sesa Goa, India’s biggest private sector iron ore producer. The total banking syndicate consisted of 24 banks, including:[5]

· ABN Amro Bank, now part of RBS US$ 66.8 million € 42.9 million
· Bank of Baroda US$ 66.8 million € 42.9 million
· Bank of East Asia US$ 5.0 million € 3.2 million
· Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ US$ 66.8 million € 42.9 million
· Barclays US$ 66.8 million € 42.9 million
· Bayerische Landesbank US$ 25.0 million € 16.1 million
· Calyon, part of Crédit Agricole US$ 66.8 million € 42.9 million
· Chang Hwa Commercial Bank US$ 15.0 million € 9.6 million
· China Construction Bank US$ 10.0 million € 6.4 million
· Chinatrust Financial Holding US$ 15.0 million € 9.6 million
· Citigroup US$ 66.8 million € 42.9 million
· DBS Bank US$ 25.0 million € 16.1 million
· First Commercial Bank US$ 5.0 million € 3.2 million
· First Gulf Bank US$ 10.0 million € 6.4 million
· Indian Bank US$ 20.0 million € 12.8 million
· Intesa SanPaolo US$ 25.0 million € 16.0 million
· Mizuho Financial Group US$ 66.8 million € 42.9 million
· Natixis US$ 50.0 million € 31.1 million
· Scotiabank-Bank of Nova Scotia US$ 50.0 million € 31.1 million
· Standard Chartered Bank US$ 66.8 million € 42.9 million
· State Bank of India US$ 66.8 million € 42.9 million
· Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp US$ 66.8 million € 42.9 million
· Taishin International Bank US$ 10.0 million € 6.4 million
· Westdeutsche Landes Giro US$ 66.8 million € 42.9 million


· In June 2008, Vedanta Resources secured a Rp 10 billion (US$ 234 million) loan . ICICI Bank (India) acted as lead arranger. The banking syndicate consisted of six Indian banks.[6]

· Bank of Maharashtra
· Corporation Bank
· ICICI Bank Ltd

· Indian Bank
· United Bank of India
· Vijaya Bank


· In March 2009, Vedanta Resources acquired copper producer Asarco (United States) for the total amount of US$ 1.7 bilion (€ 1.3 billion). The acquisition is backed by two letters of credit from ABN Amro (now part of Royal Bank of Scotland):[7]

· ABN Amro, part of Royal Bank of Scotland US$ 100 million € 77 million


1.2 Share issuances
· In June 2007, Sterlite Industries issued 150 million new shares (which equals a shareholding of 21.2%) in the form of American Depositary Shares on the American capital market. Sterlite Industries is India’s largest non-ferrous metals and mining group and was 76% owned by Vedanta Resources before. Following the offering Vedanta Resources still owned a majority share and had management control. The offering raised US$ 2,016 million (€ 1,503 million) for the company and was managed and underwritten by:[8]

· Citigroup 12.9 million shares € 129 million
· Merrill Lynch 53.0 million shares € 530 million
· Morgan Stanley 53.0 million shares € 530 million
· Nomura 11.5 million shares € 115 million


1.3 Bond issuances
· In October 2005, Vedanta Resources mandated Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley for a US$ 500 to 1,000 million bond issuance. This bond issuance was never realised.[9]

· In January 2006, Vedanta Finance (Jersey) Limited - a financing subsidiary of Vedanta Resources in Jersey - issued 4.6% twenty-year guaranteed convertible bonds with a total value of US$ 725 million (€ 600 million).
The bond issuance was managed and underwritten by Barclays. The issuance was a flop, which means that Barclays was not able to sell the bonds to sufficient investors and was left with a lot of bonds itself.[10] It is not clear if Barclays has been able to sell these bonds since.

· In June 2008, Vedanta Resources issued bonds in two tranches totalling US$ 1.25 billion (€ 803 million). The first tranche consisted of 8.75% five and a half year bonds totalling US$ 500 million (€ 321 million). The second tranche consisted of 9.5% ten-year bonds totalling US$ 750 million (€ 482 million). The proceeds were intended for general corporate purposes. The bonds were sold as a private offering. Five banks acted as joint book runners: [11]

· Barclays US$ 208.3 million € 134 million
· Citigroup US$ 208.3 million € 134 million
· Deutsche Bank US$ 208.3 million € 134 million
· JPMorgan US$ 312.5 million € 201 million
· Morgan Stanley US$ 312.5 million € 201 million



Appendix 1 References
[1] India, Euroweek - Issue: 909, London, 24 June 2005; India, Euroweek - Issue: 914, London, 29 July 2005; Indian companies enjoy their power in loan mart, Euroweek - Supplement India in the Capital Markets, London, 30 September 2005.
[2] India, Euroweek - Issue: 948, London, 7 April 2006; Prospectus, Sterlite Industries, Mumbai, 18 June 2007.
[3] Vedanta invests in Indian iron ore producer, Rebecca Bream, Financial Times, 25 April 2007; Annual Report 2007, Vedanta Resources Plc, London, June 2007; South Asia Syndicated Loans news in brief, Euroweek - Issue: 1014, London, 26 July 2007.
[4] Vedanta raises Sesa Goa bridge, Project Finance, London, 28 August 2007; South Asia Syndicated Loans - news in brief, EuroWeek - Issue: 1019, London, 31 August 2007.
[5] South Asian Syndicated Loans - news in brief, August 29, 2008, Euroweek - Issue: 1069, London, 28 August 2008; South Asian Syndicated Loans - news in brief, June 6, 2008, Euroweek - Issue: 1057, London, 5 June 2008; Tearsheet deal facility number 2357292115, Thomson ONE Banker Database, 22 August 2008.
[6] Tearsheet deal facility number 2381020115, Thomson ONE Banker Database, 25 June 2008; South Asian Syndicated Loans - news in brief, July 4, 2008, Euroweek - Issue: 1061, London, 3 July 2008.
[7] South Asian Syndicated Loans - news in brief, Euroweek - Issue: 1095, London, March 13, 2009.
[8] Vedanta Resources plc announces Sterlite’s plans for US ADR Offering, Press release Vedanta Resources Plc, London, 16 November 2006; Prospectus, Sterlite Industries, Mumbai, 18 June 2007; Sterlite Industries (India) Limited Prices Global ADS Offering, Press release Sterlite Industries, Mumbai, 19 June 2007; Sterlite Raises $1.75 Billion in Top Indian ADR Sale, Debarati Roy, Bloomberg, 19 June 2007; Three jumbo IPOs set remarkable week for Indian equities, Euroweek - Issue: 1009, London, 22 June 2007.
[9] Debt capital markets - Resourceful perp, IFR Asia - Issue No 424, Hong Kong, 8 October 2005; Debt capital markets - Confusion, IFR Asia - Issue No 425, Hong Kong, 15 October 2005; Barclays hits landmine with Vedanta CB, Jasper Moiseiwitsch, IFR Asia - Issue No 438, Hong Kong, 28 January 2006.
[10] Vedanta Resources plc announces the launch of US$ 725 million Convertible Bonds due 2026, Press release Vedanta Resources Plc, London, 23 January 2006; Barclays left holding much of Vedanta CB, Joanne O'Connor, Euroweek - Issue: 938, London, 27 January 2006; Barclays hits landmine with Vedanta CB, Jasper Moiseiwitsch, IFR Asia - Issue No 438, Hong Kong, 28 January 2006.
[11] Pricing Of Bond Offering, Vedanta Resources, London, 26 June 2008; Thomson ONE Database (www.thomsonone.com), Viewed in February 2009.

Cracks developed in Sirgao Bandekar mine

According to reports reaching yesterday evening Bandekar mine at Sirgao village has developed acute cracks in its phases. This 100 meters deep mine has seen suspension of operation of its activities of pumping of ground water from the pits yesterday by the company.

Villagers anticipate that this mine may collapse at any time including at an unearthly hour and may cause another disaster to Sirgao village and villagers.

Sebastian Rodrigues