-- Samir Umarye BICHOLIM OCT 24: About 200 villagers from Vathadev Bicholim including the workers from the cosme Pharma Ltd today organised a rally in
protest against the proposed mining in the village. It may be stated that a mining company has been given the sanction to start mining activities at Vathadev inspite of opposition from the locals. As of now several morchas, demonstrations have been carried out by the villagers in protest against the same. The panchayat through a special meeting had strongly disapproved any plans to start mining activities which would harm the Bicholim river. Today as a part of the protest the villagers and the workers of the cosme Pharma Ltd carried out the rally which began at about 10 am from the village and culminated at Shivaji Maharaj Maidan at Bicholim. In the rally men, women and children participated in large number. The workers of the Cosme Pharma Ltd, a company which is likely to be affected due to mining activities, also protested the move of the mine owners. After reaching the Shivaji Maidan the meeting was addressed by the labour leader, Chiristopher Fonseca. Addressing the gathering Fonseca extended the full support of the workers' union for the cause of the villagers and the pharma workers. " We fully support the workers of the cosme pharma and this is only the beginning of our agitation" Fonseca warned adding "the pharma company should make their stand clear in the matter or face severe consequences." He also demanded with the state government to cancel the lease given to the mining company to start its activity in the area. "We would fight till the end and the government would be forced to cancel the lease given to the mining company" he told. Environmentalist, Ramesh Gawas came down heavily over the sanction given by the central government to the companey. "Inspite of the local opposition they have cleared the proposal without even taking into consideration the ill effects on the environment that the mining will cause" Gawas explained warning "if the company sets up its unit we will stall the work at any cost." He also called the sanction given to the mining as illegal and called upon all the people of Bicholim to save the river. Labour leader, Raju Mangeshkar; villager, Jitendra Sawaikar also spoke on the occasion.
