Dears,
Mining below the water table by endlessly pumping our the water from the pits
... and deep bore wells in industrial estates ... are inextricably linked to
the sudden drying up of village wells, ponds, tanks and even the bathing ghats
at the temple of the Earth Goddess Lairaiee at Sirigao or Shirgao on the banks
of Assonora river and in the lap of the Shirgao mines. The CNN-IBN team led by
Bahar Dutt and Tridip Mondal visited Shirigao on 04 May, 2008, just days before
the annual zatra ...and filmed the dry "Dhondd-anchi Tolli". The NEERI team has
till December, 2008 to submit its report. Good job by Amicus Curae, Adv. Norma
Alvares.
I hope the HC extends its time to study the impact on water and dust ... the
adversities peak in April-May each year. A survey during the monsoons will give
the three mines a rain-washed CLEAN CHIT. The NEERI team will otherwise have to
depend on secondary data and interviews, not always reliable in a world where
money equals power.
Mog asundi.
Miguel
HC for study on Shirgao pollution
17 Jun 2008, 0339 hrs IST,TNN
PANAJI: The high court of Bombay at Goa has appointed the National
Environmental Engineering Research Institute to examine damage to agriculture
and water bodies in the village of Shirgao, Bicholim. The cost of the study—Rs
25 lakh—will be shared by three mining companies.
Earlier this year, Shirgao villagers had written to the court seeking justice
against pollution caused by mining and the letter was taken up as a PIL. The
villagers had pointed out that water bodies and agriculture had been affected
due to mining, depriving them of their livelihood. The court had issued notices
to the mining companies and to the government in the matter.A division bench
comprising justice S A Bobde and justice R C Chavan has asked NEERI to examine
whether the depletion in well and surface water bodies in the village is due to
mining operations.
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