Goan tribal federation file petition in High Court over resumption of mining
Dust and Queue of mining truck haunt Goa residents Gakuved Federation has filed a PIL in the Hon'ble High Court of Bombay at Goa bench citing various violations of laws and rules in ongoing mining transportation. Gakuved in its petition has also mentioned about the plight of the poor tribal villagers living in the mining affected villages like Caurem, of South Goa. Gakuved Federation has made Chief Secretary, Directorate Mines & Geology, Goa Pollution Control Board, District Collector South Goa, SP South as parties along with two mining companies that are presently handling mining transportation in Caurem area. The petition was filed yesterday 20.05.2020 and have requested for urgent hearing on 22.05.2020. During lockdown when mining transport started people suspected about the legality of ore transported, but no one questioned as people wanted truck operators to earn some income for survival during lockdown period, but if you look at the present situation on road, it looks like that there is a some strategy is being planned by some politicians to sell whole of Goa's iron ore deposit during this lockdown period. Yes, a definite plan is on the cards to sell Goa mining resources at break neck speed during the lockdown period throwing all Covid-19 restrictions in the state to the wind. The ore transported from various parts of the state, for its onward export is the one which was extracted prior to March 15, 2018 as Supreme Court has banned mining and put a ban on renewing any lease agreements in the state. On January 30, 2020, the Supreme Court allowed mining firms to transport iron ore that was validly mined from mines in Goa, on the condition that, they had paid royalty to the government authorities. This has given a push to the economy in the mining belt, which had come to standstill after the Supreme Court order. However, in a bid to finish transportation within six months as per the Apex court directive, deadline of which ends on June 30, the mining companies and transporters seem to be violating the law and DMG regulations. The unchecked violations, as such, have been threatening the lives and health of the locals, mostly at Sanvordem-Curchorem and Quepem who have opposed the movement of trucks but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. “Instead of extending lease period and giving benefit to only select people who have benefited from Portuguese regime, go for fresh auction of all mining lease immediately to start mining, this will definitely benefit all the stakeholders of Goa,” twitted Sanjay Dessai, Principal at CES College Cuncolim,Goa, learner & Researcher in the area of Corporate governance & finance, working for social awareness. Sanjay Dessai feels for the people of the living in mining affected areas of Goa, as he was born and brought up in the mining areas. He feels for the everyday sufferings of the people living in the area. The turmoil for the common man on account of mining is not a recent story but has been going for decades. Here are a few Snajy Dessai’s mining related tweets. “Happy to know that Goa Govt has permitted to export Rs 4,500,0000000 (Rs. 4,500 crore) worth of iron ore to revive Goan economy. I just wanted to know how much direct revenue Goa Govt will get from Rs 4,500 crore sale, experts please guide. Figure of Rs 4,500 crore is arrived as follows. Total ore to be exported is 75,00000 tonnes, Present rate of iron ore per tonne is $ 80 per tonne and exchange rate is Rs 75 per US dollar, 80 x 75 = 6000 per tonne . 75,00000 X 6000 = 4,500,0000000).” “From where are they getting the valuation of $80 per tonne? International metal prices are at it's all time low. Even a giant like Vedanta is reeling & is borrowing at double digits interest from the market,” wrote another one in response to Sanjay Dessai’s tweet. "People who have committed illegal mining cannot manage our family gold. Clearly anyone found to have committed illegal mining should not be allowed to manage our family gold. Our Supreme Court found the entire Goan mining industry was mining illegally for nearly five years. Only auctions or mining through a government company can achieve zero loss. But the deeper question is why are we selling our family gold, calling the sale proceeds “revenue” and spending it? This is fundamentally immoral. The capital must be saved in a future generation fund, and the fund income distributed as a zonn, a dividend to all," says Rahul Basu of Goa Foundation. The Supreme Court in January, this year had permitted 9.5 million tonne ore lying at jetties and plots, which has to be transported within six months. The South Collector has also issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) according to which only 25 to 30 trucks could ply per hour from the mines. However, the reality seems to be something different. Locals said that the unregulated transportation choke the road in the morning (up to 1 pm) and causes heavy dust pollution besides the accidents, which has rendered the roads unusable for locals. Locals also lament that there is allegedly no monitoring from the Government department i.e Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG). Locals questioned how the 450 trucks have been able to get 900 drivers during this strict lockdown.