Cavrem tense due to mining

Tension went high in Cavrem on Monday 22/11/2010 morning as the management of Devapan Dongor Mine operated by one Shaik Salim did not comply with the assurance given to pollution control at the hearing held on 19/11/2010.

That the villagers of Cavrem claims that the Shaik Salim Mine at Cavrem Quepem is operating sans permission from the pollution control broad to operate. Presently the hearing in respect of the said mine is under process before the Goa Pollution control board. It is learnt that at the last date of hearing held on 19/11/2010 the management of the mine has given an assurance to the officials of Goa Pollution control board that they will not start the motor to pump water, will not start the plant and will use machinery only to make road and put the rejection dump in order. However the villagers claimed that in violation of the said assurances given to the Pollution control board the management operated the mine and pump water.

The non compliance of assurances given to the Pollution control board irritated the villagers so on Monday morning at around 7.00 AM around 150 villagers gathered at the gate of the mine to high light the issue. That meanwhile the police got the information and immediately two jeep load of police from Quepem Police station headed by PSI Rahul Damsheker rushed to the site to maintain law and order. The villagers remain outside the gate of the mine till 1.00PM after which they disperse. That as soon as the villagers disperse the police also returned back. No untoward incident has been reported. However Cavrem seems to be tense due to the operation of Devapan Dongor mine. The villagers are determined not to allow the mine to operate.

Yesterday 25/11/2010 morning group of hundred villagers met Chief Minister Digambar Kamat at his Margao residence and asked him to close down the Sheikh Saalim mine in their village.

Mining trucks defy High Court order

Defying High Court order which laid the timing for mining truck as 8.00AM to 6.00PM the mining truck operating via Tilamol quepem side on thursday continued even beyond 8.00PM night thereby causing traffic jam and causing inconvenience to the general public. This is about today.

Yesterday at 11.30 am, Zambaulim to Tilamol, some of the trucks overloaded with iron ore stopped one side of the road, at that time counted 221 trucks within half an hour. Each truck loaded 3 trips per day.

Illegal pumping of water from Cavrem Sheikh Salim mine

This is a blatant case of illegal mining. These pictures shows the damage this mine has caused to Hills and ground water in Cavrem, Quepem, Goa.

Cavrem people's march on the mine, police stop

On November 22 tribal people of Cavrem, Quepem marched on Sheikh Salim mine that is operating illegally in the village disrupting their water sources. Goa Police came to protect the mining company. Here are two pictures from the protest.

Cavrem mining disrupts water flow

Cavrem mining in Goa's Quepem taluka disrupts traditional water ways. Adivasi people suffer. This is an edited picture pointing out dumps and nallah (water path).

GOAMAP demands termination of Bandekar mining lease in Sirgao

Goa Federation of Mines Affected People (GOAMAP) demands immediate termination of mining lease 04/1949 belonging to Bandekar in Sirgao village of Bicholim taluka.

GOAMAP condemns the decision of Goa Government to renew this mining lease for another 20 years in a gazette notification issue on 10^th November 2010. GOAMAP considers this mining renewal as an insult to those Sirgao village that is already facing acute water shortages and siltation of paddy fields.

Goa government has included settlement zones - local houses, agricultural fields, water springs, village temples and community places of famous Sirgao Zatra’s venue for its Omkhand in the mining renewal lease of Bandekar.

Villagers of Sirgao has been protesting damage done to their village over the past few years and Goa government instead of lessening their burden has acted in a manner to wipe out Sirgao from the Map of the Planet. Goa’s Mines Minister who is also the Chief Minister - Digambar Kamat - has no right whatsoever to this. His action has once again proved that he is an enemy of Bhahujan Samaj and ecology of Goa.

Cavrem letter to GSPCB on illegal mining

CAUREM ADIVASI BACHAO SAMITI

c/o. Nilesh Gaonkar,

Gaonkarwada, Caurem,

Quepem taluka, Goa

REF NO. 21/10 Date: 24^th November 2010

To

The Member Secretary,

The Goa State Pollution Control Board,

Dempo Towers, 1^st Floor,

Patto Plaza,

Panaji, Goa

Sub: REQUEST FOR URGENT ORDER STOPPING ILLEGAL MINING AT DEVAPAN DONGOR MINE, TC 01/51, CAUREM VILLAGE, QUEPEM TALUKA

Dear Sir,

We, the members of the Caurem Adivasi Bachao Samiti, living in the Caurem village of the Quepem Taluka, request your immediate intervention to save our village from illegal mining at the subject mine, and the disastrous effects of pollution due to it.

We wish to thank you for the opportunity given to us to attend the hearing held regarding the renewal of the Consent to Operate of the subject mine in the office of the Chairman of the GSPCB on 19^th November 2010. However, we are greatly distressed by the fact that in spite of assurances given by the mining company's representatives during the hearing that no mining or dewatering is being carried out at the mine, the mining company has continued its dewatering and mining activities. In fact, they have accelerated their excavations and internal transportation activities after the hearing and have engaged a number of excavators and dozens of trucks in contravention of their commitments to you. They are also pumping out huge quantities of water from the mining pit at nights, thereby causing siltation and pollution of our water ways and paddy fields.

We therefore request you to kindly pass an Order stopping the dewatering and mining activities in the said mine until they obtain the Consent to Operate. Please also give directions to the executive to ensure that the mining company is stopped physically from carrying out mining activities, since they are showing blatant contempt for the law and for their own representations.

We are determined to save our village from any further destruction and shall greatly appreciate your support and co-operation in stopping the illegal mining activities and the irreversible polution of our surface and ground water resources, and for upholding the Law and our Constitution.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-

Tulshidas Velip

Secretary

Cavrem letter to Indian Bureau of Mines on illegal mining

CAUREM ADIVASI BACHAO SAMITI

c/o. Nilesh Gaonkar,

Gaonkarwada, Caurem,

Quepem taluka, Goa

REF NO. 23/10 Date: 24^th November 2010

To

The Indian Burean of Mines,

Fatorda, Margao, Goa

Sub: REQUEST FOR URGENT ACTION TO STOP ILLEGAL MINING OPERATIONS AT 'DEVAPAN MINE', TC 01/51, CAUREM VILLAGE, QUEPEM TALUKA

REF: 1) Our earlier letter to you dated 31^st August 2010

2) Our earlier letter to you dated 12^th October 2010, received by you on 25^th October 2010

Dear Sir,

We, the members of the Caurem Adivasi Bachao Samiti, living in the Caurem village of the Quepem Taluka, request your immediate intervention to stop the mining and dewatering operations going on at the 'Devapan' mine, TC 01/51, Caurem village, Quepem taluka. In addition to the grounds stated in our earlier letters referenced above, we bring to your attention the following violations by the ongoing activities at the said mine.

1. Destruction of ground water aquifer and springs: 'Devapan' literally translates as 'God's sacred grove', signifiying the exceptional significance of the life giving ecological wealth of this hill. This hill has some of the most exceptional aquifers in Goa and is the origin of numerous perennial springs, including major ones called 'Paikachi Zor', Khaspurus Zor', 'Talyepat Zor', 'Bulmeachi Zor', 'Khuteachi Zor Ghogho', 'Mestan Zor', 'Gaunkaran Zor', 'Vanvshan Zor' and 'Gallachi Zor'.The present mining pit has already gone deep into the ground much below the permitted levels, and has burst one water aquifer, thereby destroying its integrity, the water quality and quantity, which is serious violation of the conditions imposed by the Environmental Clearance. This has already caused significant reduction in the quantity and quality of water flowing from many of our springs. The last two of the springs named above are inside the active mining area, with the 'Gallachi Zor' being destroyed completely and the 'Vanvshan Zor' is surrounded by mining activities on all side, with the water being used for washing mining equipment. Every day, the mining activities continue to destroy this crucial source of perennial water, and one of main sources of Kushawati River, which is the lifeline of tens of thousands of families living in our village, and in dozens of villages along the route of Karka River, Kushawati River and the Zuari River. We are afraid that if the mining activities are not stopped immediately, more compartments of this aquifer shall be compromised, causing total and irreversible destruction in our village and in other parts of Goa.

2. Destruction of nallahs and buffer zone: The subject mining lease includes three nallahs, which used to carry perennial waters to our fields for cultivation of second and third crops of paddy, sugarcane, chillis, vegetables and for horticulture. The mining company has not only compromised the buffer zones of the nallahs, but has also destroyed the nallahs themselves, in blatant violation of the law.

3. Mining Operations without necessary permissions: The Consent to Operate for the said mine has expired on 1^st January 2010, after which the mine has been operating illegally. During this period the mining company has excavated and transported huge quantities of ore illegally. As per the Orders of the Bombay High Court dated 20^th September 2010 (copy attached), read with the submissions made by the Government Departments, the mine is supposed to be inoperational. During a Hearing held at the office of the Chairman of GSPCB on 19^th November 2010, the representatives of the mining company stated that no mining operations are taking place at the mine. However, the mining activities are continuing till date with impunity, with accelerated speed and urgency.

4. Pollution of water and paddy fields: The illegal mining operations are causing havoc to the water and agriculture in our village, as confirmed by the Show Cause Notice issued by the Goa State Pollution Control Board on 22^nd October 2010 and their Test Reports (copies attached). During the Hearing held at the office of the Chairman of the GSPCB on 19^th November 2010, it was stated by the mining company representatives that the pump(s) in the mining pit are only for emergency purposes. However, the mining company continues to operate the pump illegally till date, and is thereby dumping large amounts of mud in the lands, rivers and paddy fields downstream of the mining pit and destroying them.

5. Forest Rights: The residents of Caurem village are scheduled tribe members and other forest dwellers. The attached copy of the Table no. 20, on page 100 of the “Survey Report on Scheduled Tribes of Goa” states that during the 2001 census, 699 tribal households were ennumerated in our village, which corroborates the actual number of more than 2000 tribal residents of our village. Our Traditional Rights over our Forest Lands, which includes the lands under this mining lease and lands contiguous with them, are now finally recognized by the Union Government under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. The ongoing mining is undermining the objectives of this new enactment and is destroying our Rights before they are even verified by the Government, and is therefore in violation of this enactment. The Environmental Clearance is also based on the false data included in the Rapid EIA & Management Plan Report, which states that there do not exist any tribals in the 22 villages in the study area (copy of page 3.9 of the Report attached). This is abolutely false, since all these villages are predominantly populated by tribals, as verified also by the government data in the Table no. 20, on page 100 of the “Survey Report on Scheduled Tribes of Goa”, which is attached herewith. Secondly, we have not had a proper opportunity to have a Public Hearing as mandated under the EIA Notification, since majority of the villagers were not aware of the Hearing held on 28^th April 2008. Thirdly, attached herewith is a copy of the unanimous Gram Sabha resolution dated 19^th December 2007 resolving to stop the mining which was forced upon the villagers in spite of their opposition. This resolution also is evidence proving that the mining had started even before the so-called Public Hearing held on 28^th April 2008, reducing the entire exercise to a farce.

6. Violation of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980: A large portion of the mining land includes forest lands, both private forest and government owned reserve forest. The mining activities are going on in the private forest area without any permissions.

OUR PRAYER

We pray that you may therefore:

1. carry out a thorough investigation into the illegalities mentioned in this letter and into the adherence by the mining company to its other statutory responibilities under the various laws applicable, and the terms and conditions imposed under the various clearances and permissions obtained by the company;

2. pass an interim Stay Order against any mining or dewatering operations at the Devapan Dongor mine to prevent further irreversible damage to us and our environment, in the pendency of the investigation;

3. to take steps necessary to ensure that the mining comany cannot physically operate their machinery and pumps illegaly, as they have been doing in blatant violation of their own assurances given to the Chairman of the GSPCB in our presence.

We are determined to save our village from any further destruction and shall greatly appreciate your support and co-operation in stopping the irreversible polution of our surface and ground water resources, and upholding the Law and our Constitution.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-

Tulshidas Velip

Secretary

Encl: 1) Copies of documents mentioned in the body of this letter

Cc: 1. Regional office of MOEF, Banglore. 2. MOEF, Delhi.

Cavrem letter to Chief Conservator of Forest on illegal mining

CAUREM ADIVASI BACHAO SAMITI

c/o. Nilesh Gaonkar,

Gaonkarwada, Caurem,

Quepem taluka, Goa

REF NO. 20/10 Date: 25^th November 2010

To

The Chief Conservator of Forests,

The Chairman of the Monitoring Committee,

Gomanta Maratha Samaj Building,

Panaji, Goa

Sub: REQUEST FOR ORDER STOPPING MINING & DEWATERING AT XEC SALIM MINE, TC 01/51, CAUREM VILLAGE, QUEPEM TALUKA

Dear Sir,

We, the members of the Caurem Adivasi Bachao Samiti, living in the Caurem village of the Quepem Taluka, request your immediate intervention to save our village from the disastrous effects of water pollution caused by illegal mining.

We recently had the opportunity to attend the hearing held by the GSPCB regarding the renewal of the Consent to Operate of the subject mine in the office of the Chairman of the GSPCB on 19^th November 2010. However, we are greatly distressed by the fact that in spite of assurances given by the mining company's representatives during the hearing that no mining or dewatering is being carried out at the mine, the mining company has continued its dewatering and mining activities. In fact, they have accelerated their excavations and internal transportation activities after the hearing and have engaged a number of excavators and dozens of trucks in contravention of their commitments to the government. They are also pumping out huge quantities of water from the mining pit at nights, thereby causing siltation and pollution of our water ways and paddy fields.

We therefore request you to kindly pass an Order stopping the dewatering and mining activities in the said mine until they obtain the Consent to Operate. Please also give directions to the executive to ensure that the mining company is stopped physically from carrying out mining activities, since they are showing blatant contempt for the law and for their own representations.

We are determined to save our village from any further destruction and shall greatly appreciate your support and co-operation in stopping the illegal mining activities and the irreversible polution of our surface and ground water resources, and for upholding the Law and our Constitution.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-

Tulshidas Velip

Secretary

Cavrem reminder on illegal mining to Goa Chief Minister

CAUREM ADIVASI BACHAO SAMITI

c/o. Nilesh Gaonkar,

Gaonkarwada, Caurem,

Quepem taluka, Goa

REF NO. 02/10 Date: 25^th November 2010

To

The Hon'ble Chief Minister of Goa,

The Secretariat,

Porvorim, Bardez taluka, Goa

Sub: Second Reminder regarding Site Inspection of illegal mining at Caurem, Quepem taluka at TC 01/51, Devapan Dongor mine

REF: 1) Our meeting with you on 19^th August 2010 at your residential office

2) Our earlier letter to you dated 23^rd September 2010

Dear Sir,

We, the members of the Caurem Adivasi Bachao Samiti, had met you in your office at your residence at Malbhat, Margao on 19^th August 2010 at 0930 hrs in order to explain to you the devastation caused to our village and its residents by the subject mine, and to request you to stop the illegal mining operation immediately. You had promised that you would inspect our village and the effects of the mining jointly with us and that if there is any illegality, you would not allow the said mining to take place.

It is more than three months since you promised to inspect the mine. In the meanwhile, the rains are finished and the illegal mining has commenced in earnest. We are in a desperate situation, with the illegal mining rapidly destroying our village, our water resources and our forests. We had written a letter to you on 23^rd September 2010 reminding you of your promise, but to no avail.

Please tell us what are we supposed to do, as we are being systematically destroyed along with our lands by the said illegal mining, while you, our Chief Minister, are ignoring our desperate pleas for over three months. The illegal mining conitnues unabated despite the representations made by the mining company that no mining is taking place in the said mine, and in contempt of the Bombay High Court Order dated 20^th September 2010 implying that no mining activities are taking place, and in spite of the ample evidence available with the government departments regarding violations of law by the said mine.

The following facts are again brought to your notice as evidence of the illegality of the mining being carried out:

1. Destruction of ground water aquifers and springs: 'Devapan' literally translates as 'God's sacred grove', signifiying the exceptional significance of the life giving ecological wealth of this hill. This hill has some of the most exceptional aquifers in Goa and is the origin of numerous perennial springs, including major ones called 'Paikachi Zor', Khaspurus Zor', 'Talyepat Zor', 'Bulmeachi Zor', 'Khuteachi Zor Ghogho', 'Mestan Zor', 'Gaunkaran Zor', 'Vanvshan Zor' and 'Gallachi Zor'.The present mining pit has already gone deep into the ground much below the permitted levels, and has burst one water aquifer, thereby destroying its integrity, the water quality and quantity, which is serious violation of the conditions imposed by the Environmental Clearance. This has already caused significant reduction in the quantity and quality of water flowing from many of our springs. The last two of the springs named above are inside the active mining area, with the 'Gallachi Zor' being destroyed completely and the 'Vanvshan Zor' is surrounded by mining activities on all side, with the water being used for washing mining equipment. Every day, the mining activities continue to destroy the crucial sources of perennial water contained within the Devapan Dongor, which water is the lifeline of tens of thousands of families living in dozens of villages along the route of Karka rivulet, Kushawati River and the Zuari River. We are certain that if the mining activities are not stopped immediately, more compartments of this aquifer shall be compromised, causing total and irreversible destruction in our village and in other parts of Goa.

2. Destruction of nallahs and buffer zone: The subject mining lease includes three nallahs, which used to carry perennial waters to our fields for cultivation of second and third crops of paddy, sugarcane, chillis, vegetables and for horticulture until the mining activities commenced. The mining company has not only compromised the buffer zones of the nallahs, but has also destroyed the nallahs themselves, in blatant violation of the law.

3. Mining Operations without necessary permissions: The Consent to Operate for the said mine has expired on 1^st January 2010, after which the mine has been operating illegally. During this period the mining company has excavated and transported huge quantities of ore illegally. As per the Orders of the Bombay High Court dated 20^th September 2010 (copy attached), read with the submissions made by the Government Departments, the mine is not supposed to be in operation. During a Hearing held at the office of the Chairman of GSPCB on 19^th November 2010, the representatives of the mining company also stated that no mining operations are taking place at the mine. However, the mining activities are continuing till date with impunity, with accelerated speed and urgency, proving the blatant lies and misrepresentations being made by the mining company.

4. Pollution of water and paddy fields: The illegal mining operations are causing havoc to the water and agriculture in our village, as confirmed by the Show Cause Notice issued by the Goa State Pollution Control Board on 22^nd October 2010 and their Test Reports (copies attached). During the Hearing held at the office of the Chairman of the GSPCB on 19^th November 2010, it was stated by the mining company representatives that the pump(s) in the mining pit are only for emergency purposes. However, the mining company continues to operate the pump illegally till date, and is thereby dumping large amounts of mud in the lands, rivers and paddy fields downstream of the mining pit and destroying them.

5. Forest Rights: The residents of Caurem village are scheduled tribe members and other forest dwellers. The attached copy of the Table no. 20, on page 100 of the “Survey Report on Scheduled Tribes of Goa” states that during the 2001 census, 699 tribal households were ennumerated in our village, which corroborates the actual number of more than 2000 tribal residents of our village. Our Traditional Rights over our Forest Lands, which includes the lands under this mining lease and lands contiguous with them, are now finally recognized by the Union Government under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. The ongoing mining is undermining the objectives of this new enactment and is destroying our Rights before they are even verified by the Government, and is therefore in violation of this enactment. The Environmental Clearance is also based on the false data included in the Rapid EIA & Management Plan Report, which states that there do not exist any tribals in the 22 villages in the study area (copy of page 3.9 of the Report attached). This is abolutely false, since all these villages are predominantly populated by tribals, as verified also by the government data in the Table no. 20, on page 100 of the “Survey Report on Scheduled Tribes of Goa”, which is attached herewith. Secondly, we have not had a proper opportunity to have a Public Hearing as mandated under the EIA Notification, since majority of the villagers were not aware of the Hearing held on 28^th April 2008. Thirdly, attached herewith is a copy of the unanimous Gram Sabha resolution dated 19^th December 2007 resolving to stop the mining which was forced upon the villagers in spite of their opposition. This resolution also is evidence proving that the mining had started even before the so-called Public Hearing held on 28^th April 2008, reducing the entire exercise to a farce.

6. Violation of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980: A large portion of the mining land includes forest lands, both private forest and government owned reserve forest. The mining activities are going on in the private forest area without any permissions.

We are willing to show you all the evidence regarding the above violations and the previous correspondence initiated by us with the various government departments.

We are again pleading with you to take this impending destruction extremely seriously, and hope that you shall not fail to keep your promise. If the mining is started again in our village before your inspection, we shall be forced to consider all options available to us in the face of the extermination of our tribal village.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-

Tulshidas Velip

Secretary

encl: documents referred in the letter