Sesa Goa's illegal dumps in Pissurlem: No Action from Government

Even though Mamlatdar of Sattari Taluka ruled that mining dumps belonging to Sesa Goa mining company now owned by British multinational Vedanta way back on 24th June 2004 even after four years action to remove the same is yet to be taken. Here is the Text of the letter as it is addreesed to the Dy. Collector & SDO, Sub Division, Bicholim-Goa with subject Complaint against M/s Sesa Goa & Co:

This Office is in receipt of a complaint received from Shri Hanumant C. Parab & others agaisnt M/s Sesa Goa & Company in respect of Sy. No. 24/11 of village Pissurlem Satari Taluka.

After the receipt of said complaints inquiry was conducted through the Talathi of Pissurlem saza and as per the report of the Talathi, the property surveyed under Sy.No.24/11 is recorded in the name of Govt. of Goa, Daman & Diu and Shamba Govind Sinai Pissurlekar, Anusuyabai Anant Pissurlekar and Purushotam Sindu Kailo Devidas.

That though the said property is recorded in the name of Govt. of Goa and three others, the said property is not partitioned by metes and bound, and the share of each co-owner cannot be ascertain. That the said Sesa Goa Company have illegally used the said properties surveyed under Sy.No. 24/11 for dumping of their mining rejects without any authority/consent from the Govt. As such the said use of the property by the said mining company is illegal and against the interest of the Govt.

Your are therefore kindly requested to take necessary action against the4 said Sesa Goa mining company under the land Revenue Code.

Yours Faithfully
Sd/-
(S.F. Naik)
Mamlatdar of Satari Taluka,
Valpoi - Goa

Deputy Collector is not acting on this further. Reason of course is understandable as Hanumant Porob from Pissurlem, Sattari, Goa Comments: Concern officers like Arvind Bugde, the Deputy Collector of Bicholim are not serious on this issue as they are under the control of the politicians and mining companies and they are neglecting the public interest and safety.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Qepem Police PI invokes Sec.149 Cr.Pc on Rama Velip

Quepem Police Inspector has invoked section 149 Code of Criminal Procedures authorising police to the extend of preventive arrests in anticipation of commission of cognizable and non-cognizable offences without anyone registering complaints. He has been served call letter with a request to be present at the Quepem Police Station on June 24 at 5.00 pm.

This move is clearly to harass Rama Veilip who has challenged powerful mining industry of Goa and brought few mines in his village standstill including the mines operated by Fomentos. Police are yet to take any action on complaint of physical assaults on Succorina Dias and Motesh Antao on May 02, 2008. Police are also take any action on complaint of release of silted water into the Agricultural fields of Colamb farmers from the Fomentos operating Hiralal Khodidas mine T.C. no. 06/1949 on June 12, 2008 even though written complaint has been filed with the police station to this effect by GAKUVED.

It is clear beyond an iota of doubt as to why all this is happening and Police are acting against people and impotent against mining industry - the power of notes, higher levels political influences and everything else that comes with it including free dining and entertainments at Cidade de Goa - Starred Hotel owned by mining company Fomentos.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Rivona-Chunnimol mining disaster in 25 pictures

Let's tour Chunnimol mine in Rivona, Quepem with Rama Velip, Motes Antao, Ramesh Gauns and Sebastian Rodrigues in these 25 pictures. This mine does not posses any Environmental Clearance yet it is being operated by Salgaoncars mining company (of Sanvordem MLA Anil Salgaoncar) by sub contracting the same to Cuncolim MLA Joaquim Alemao' Raisa mining company. Its public hearing was held on 18th June 2008 with remarkable audacity to perpetuate ecological crimes on forest and people of this area. This mine is right in the middle of the Forest. It's T.C. number is 28/1952 leased out by Portuguese to Gujarati businessman Shantilal Khusaldas private Ltd.Rama Velip and Ramesh Gauns in the picture at Chunnimol mine on 14th June 2008

Water accumulated inside the mine in Chunnimol

Machinery on the mine site

Office of the mining company

All out to finish off the green western Ghats forests forever

Evidence of destruction of Forest

Mine has begun collapsing already in the first rains itself!

Corca river - that connects to Kushavati river is bordering the mining lease, this river and all its dependent life form will be disappeared if this mine continues...

Big trees cut and buried inside, roots visible

View of Dempo mine in Shivsorem from Chunnimol mine

This water accumulation inside the mine

Mining waste dump and silted water on the top of the mountain in Rivona

Machinery on mining site

Roads created in the middle of the forest, this is only one example - there are several more...

Boulders from mine stuck to forest trees

Top view of the mine, Government authorities like are yet to take serious note of these gross ecological crimes against planet earth. Citizens need to get assertive to defend planetary rights...

Testing for Ore in the middle of the mine

Big forest trees chopped down

Trenches dugged on the mine, if these mining continues future of next generations of Goa will be buried in these trenches...

View of the village houses at Chunnimol from the mine

Forest under severe threat due to this and neighboring mines

This is a bank of Corca River, are we going to let the future of our rivers in the hands of miners? Never! Lets unite to defend our rivers and push out the miners forever...

Motesh Antao at the bottom of the mining dump

In spite of pretended precautions of mining company water sips in the open forest...

Mining treatment to Goa's State tree 'Matti".

Sebastian Rodrigues

Pictures of Zolaracho Dongor Mine illegally run by Salgaoncars in Maina, Quepem.

This mine is operating without any permissions from any one and on 21st June Public Hearing was sought to be held in Quepem - that too with wrong T.C. number. Due to public pressure it was called off.

Salgaoncar mining company is in charge of this particular ecological scandal. Who can question this law maker (Anil Salgaoncar) in Goa? For him his word is his law! Goa is his private property and so its waters in hinterland as well as coast. He can get his aged vessels and sinks it wherever he pleases and claim insurance. people of Goa go to dogs. Planet earth go for a toss. He enjoys power like nothing else. Now he is distributing the mines to rest of the MLAs as well. Cuncolim MLA Joaquim Alemao is only one of them.

Dumps are huge in the forest lands. Authorities as good as non existence to stop this open butchery of Goa's forest. All the 39 MLAs (One Dead) are insensitive to Goa's long term interests. It is indeed a tragedy that requires urgent attention from vigilant citizenary in Goa.

Mining companies are mega rats that dig deep into Goa's green mountains. This is how it is done for the benefit of great walled nation called China.

Local People however have stepped up its vigil on the mining companies. They no longer go unchallenged.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Solidarity Meeting

Academicians, Activists, Artists and other people in Goa are jointly organising a SOLIDARITY meeting with the activists falsely labelled as"Naxalites" by the Leader of the Opposition, MLA of Panaji and BJP leader, Shri Manohar Parrikar, at "PUBLIC HEARING" of Legislature Sub-committe of Home Ministry held in the Goa Assembly on 19 June,2008.

The public meeting will be held at 4.00 P.M. in the TB Cunha Memorial Hall, near Azad Maidan. Panaji-Goa. It is open to all to come and express their solidarity by their presence.

Sd/-
Durgadas Gaonkar

(President)

Gawda, Kunbi, Velip And Dhangar Federation (GAKUVED)

Villagers from Cavrem, Pirla, Maina opposes Mining

The villagers of Maina , Cavrem, Pirla of Quepem taluka and adjoining villages opposed public hearing of two mines and managed to cancelled public hearing of one mine which was presided over by Addl. Collector-II Shri Y.B.Tavde and Asst. Env. Engineer GSPCB Sanjeev Joglekar.

The Pollution Control board had fixed three public hearing for the renewal of mining leases of three mine from Maina and Pirla village which includes M/S. Shantilal K and Bros. Pvt. Ltd., Pante Pan e Saterkarachi iron ore mine under T.C. No.9/53, M/S. Shantilal K and Bros. Pvt. Ltd. Zoleracho Dongor iron ore mine and M/S. Tisa Moraes Mining Industries Ubea Fateracho Dongor iron ore mine under T.C. No.1/57.

The villagers manage to cancel the hearing of Zoleracho Dongor iron ore mine on the ground that the T.C. No. mentioned in the public notice is wrong.

Objecting the mine Shri John Fernandes from Quepem stated that the hearing fixed is at far away place from the mining site. He further stated that there is government high school wherein around 300 students are studying , there are also dwelling houses within the mining lease, the protected site, the Cottigao and Netraveli reserve forest is at a close distance which fact has been suppressed from Rapid Environment Impact report. He further stated where the mine is proposed to be started is a home for different animals, Deer, byson, leapord, and birds like peacock etc. That Ubea Fatra dongor is a home for our national animal Tiger. The mining will also destroy the Corca River which is at a distance of around 500 mts.

Dr. Avdoot Prabhudessai opposing the mine stated than mining has not done any good to the locals on the contrary it destroyed the water, agricultural land, forest area , air which already jeopardize the life of the villagers and will destroy entire economy of Goa in the near future. He further stated that proposed mines will destroy Kushawati river as some of the tributaries of Kushawati River originates from the mining sites.

Mohan Dessai opposing the mine warned of severe consequences if the mining department issued licence inspite of there being objections.

Madhu Velip sarpanch of Cavrem Pirla Panchayat stated that all mine in the area should be stopped as they don't do any good to the village but destroys them. He demanded that the public hearing should be held in their village.

Sandeep Gaonkar panch member of Cavrem-pirla panchayat stated that their panchayat is the highest producer of sugarcane, milk and other agricultural product and if the mine is started all this activities will be destroyed.

Those other who oppose the mine includes Rama Velip, Motes Antao, Kashinath Velip, Dinanath Fal Dessai, Mohan Dessai.

John Fernanades

Maina, Quepem under mining threat

The villagers of Maina, Pirla, Cavrem, Colomba and the adjoining areas are gearing up to oppose the public hearing for renewal of mining leases fixed by the Goa Pollution Control board on June 21st at Chandreshwar Temple , Cotto Amona Quepem.

That the Goa Pollution Control board has fixed three pubic hearings of three mine on june 21st which includes M/S. Shantilal K and bros. Pvt. Ltd. Pante Pan e Saterkarachi iron ore mine under T.C. No.9/53 which is in survey No.23,24,40 to 45 and 51, of Maina Village M/S. Shantilal K and bros. pvt. Ltd. Zolerancho Dongor iron ore mine under T.C. No.18/51 which is in survey No.24,25, 27 to 32 , 39 , 40 and 64 of Maina Village and M/S. Tisa Moraes Mining Industries Ubea Fateracho Dongor iron ore mine under T.C. No.1/57 which is in survey No.38, 39, 56 and 59 of Pirla ,maina village of Quepem.


The villagers claim that the mine owner who had applied for renewal of mining lease in Joleracho dongor has already started the mine and extensive damage has been done to the environment. That even the forest department has booked the mine owner and has been fined for illegally cutting the trees.

They claim that the area were the mine is proposed is cover under thick forest and is a home for different animal such as spotted Dear, Byson, leapords, porcupine etc and for reptiles and birds such as peacock. The mine under T.C.No. 1/57 is a home for Tigers . The start of mining activities in that area will destroy the forest , affect the animals, reptiles, birds.

They further claim that there are residential house in the proposed leased area where in around 200 people are residing therein mostly from Dhanger community. If the mining activity started then they have to be uprooted from the area.

The Government High School Mina is at a distance of just 150 mts wherein around 300 students are studying. The dust and noise pollution caused by the mining activity will affect their health.

The Corca River which is a tributary of Kushawati River is at a distance of around 500 mts. from the proposed mine. The government this year has constructed 4 Bandaras over the Corca River at an estimated cost of Rs.4 crore in order to bring 100 acre of land under cultivation. The proposed mine will destroy the Corca river and the amount invested in constructing the Bandaras will go in waste. That the fresh water springs which supply water to the Corca and the Kushawati River are originates from these areas.

That adjacent to the proposed mine there is vast track of land wherein sugar and other cultivation is done. That some of the survey numbers which are included in the leased portion forms part of the Private Forest declared by the Sawant and Karapurkar Community particularly survey No.38 and 39 of Pirla village.

There are two temples namely the Paik Devasthan and the Sateri Devastahn which falls within the leased portion of one of the mine.

The protected site at Rivona and Ponsamol are at a close distance from the proposed mines claims the villagers further. They claim that no lease of any of the mine should be renewed.

Shivsorem mining Opposed

The villagers of Shivsorem, Colomba of Rivona Panchayat strongly opposed the public hearing organized on Wednesday by the Goa Pollution control board at Rivona V.K.S.S. Society Rivona.

The public hearing was presided over by south Goa Collector Shri G.P.Naik and Goa Pollution Control board member Shri Joglekar and was attended by over 200 villagers.

It may be recalled that the proprietor of Chuninimola Iron ore mine having lease under T.C. No.28/1952 M/S. Shantilal Khusaldas Bros pvt. Ltd. have applied for renewal of the said mining lease in survey No.88, 134, 137 and 138 of Rivona Village of Sanguem taluka over an area of 42.91 hactors.

All those present for the hearing strongly opposed it on the ground that it will destroy the environment. Raising Objection and attacking the Rapid environment assessment report submitted by the Mining company Shivsorem villager Shri Gurudas Gaonkar stated that though the Shivsorem ward having a population of 400 villagers is just at a distance of 25 mts from the mining pit it is not shown in the report. He claimed that if the mine is given permission then their ward will be wipe out from the map of Goa. He further stated that the primary school which is there is the village is also not mentioned in the report.

Rama Velip of Colomba stated that without having any environment clearance, the owner of the mining company has illegally and sans permission already started the mine one year back and done extensive damage to the environment. The mining reject has been dumped at a distance of 10 mts from the bank of the Curca river a tributary of the Kushawati River. During this monsoon the mining reject has even flown into the river. Why the public hearing at this stage , questioned said Rama. He demanded action against the mining company and termination of the mining lease for environmental violation.

Dr. Avdoot PrabhuDessai raising his objection stated that due to dust pollution that will be generated by the mining company villagers will be succumbed to different dreaded dieses like Asthma, tuberculoses, Silicoses which will finish the villagers.

Shri Subhash Prabhu Dessai stated that if the mine is permitted then the entire agriculture land presently their in the village will be destroyed. There will be no land for any cultivation.

Meanwhile the Gawda Kunbi Velip and Dhanger Ferderation has filed a complaint against the owner Chuninimola Iron ore mine before the Goa Pollution Control Board demanding action against it for doing extensive damage to the environment

John Fernanades

Opposition to Rivona's Chuninimol mine from villagers

The villagers of Shivsorem, Colomba and Rivona are gearing up to oppose the Chuninimola Iron ore mining lease under T.C. No.28/1952 owned by Shantilal Khusaldas Bros pvt. Ltd . public hearing of which is fixed on 18th June from 11.00 AM onward at Rivona V.K.S.S. Society Rivona Goa.

The villagers claims that the mine owner with their being any permission from the mining department or from Ministry of environment and Forest started operating the said mine since September 2007 which the mines department stopped late in the month of May 2008 . They claim the owner of the mine by illegally operating it has done extensive damage to the environment . The mine which is on the bank of Corca River a tributary of Kushawati River, the owner has dumped the mining reject on the bank of the said River. Even the boulders which were dumped over the rejection have landed into the Corca river thereby disturbing its water flow. As per the conditions to be laid at the time of issuing permission the mining reject has to be dumped at a distance of 100 mts. from the river. But in this case the mine owner has already violated that condition claims the villager. The villagers complains that if the mine is fully started it will destroyed the Corca and the Kushawati river.

Why the public hearing from the Goa Pollution control Board at this stage as by illegally operating the said mine the has already done extensive damage to the environment, how the owner of the be relied upon over the environment management plan submitted , when has already done the damage question the villagers. They claims that the hearing fixed on 18th June by the Goa Pollution Control Board has to be cancelled and the lease granted to the mine owner requires to be terminated.

The villagers claimed that major portion of the land which the owner claims to be having lease is a forest land. Even the Forest department raised cashew cultivation which fatches the government in lakhs per year . If the mine is permitted it will danger the Corka river, large scale forest land including cashew, and will endanger the life of over 800 adivasis residing at a distance of 50 mts from the mine.

The Rivona Panchayat GAKUVED unit president Shri Rama Velip has appealed to all Goans to present in large number on 18th June to oppose the mining lease and to save Goa from being further getting destroyed.

John Fernanades

Fomento bluff called off: Mining water in Agricultural lands

Fomento mining company in Colamb released polluted water from its controversial mine in Colamb, Sanguem into the village agricultural lands on June 12, 2008 at 4.00 pm. Villagers after hearing loud sound of water on the mine rushed to the site only to discover that brownish mining water was fast gushing into their fields. Angry villagers then marched on the mine and came to know that water release into the fields was supervised by the mining manager.

Villagers warned the Fomentos that this practice of the company will not be treated by the Colamb villagers and the company will get fitting reply. Despite court injunction against the villagers forbidding them from entering the villagers villagers daringly marched on the mine and challenged the Fomentos to file Police complaints.

Villagers got into the verbal duel with the mining manager over the repercussions of the continuation of Fomento mine in Colamb village by force.

Sebastian Rodrigues