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5th Annual Konkan Fruit Fest
Promenade, D B Bandodkar Road, Panaji, Goa
16-18, May 2008
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-May/073789.html
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Around 600 villagers of Advalpal in Goa’s Bicholim taluka marched on the 19th
May 2008, on Advalpal mines paralyzing the mining operations. According to the
reports received at 11.15 am, people suffering from mining invasion targeted
Salgaonkars, Sesa Goa and Litho Ferro mines. Details are yet to come in.
In the past few weeks, momentum has been building up against opencast mining
companies – many of them operated by mafia groups like Trimurthy. Fomentos -
that is well known for Goa’s environmental destruction and snatching away
people's livelihoods and drying up natural water sources - too is also
contributing its bit to wipe off Advalpal village in Bicholim from Goa’s map.
There is an ongoing agitation against Fomentos in Sanguem taluka’s Colamb
village. Its mines have been forced to shut down by People’s power since
January 2008.
Today’s march on mines included Members of Panchayats as well as Local MLA Mr.
Patnekar.
According to Ramesh Gauns most of these mines are illegally operating purely by
muscle power. Department of Mines and Geology is involved in protecting these
illegal mines even though none of them posses approved mining plans.
It is indeed tragedy of Goa that this government department has stooped down so
low to be mere slave agency of the miners. It is high time that the department
gets its acts together and rises up to defend people and not mining companies.
According to reports pouring in at 1.00 pm Police are preparing to arrest
Advalpal villagers on march.
Sebastian Rodrigues
www.mandgoa.blogspot.com
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