*GANV RAKHON JAGRUT MANCH, **CURCHOREM*
House No. 104/2, Bansai, Curchorem, Goa 403706 Phone No. 0832-2652808
PRESS NOTE
27/07/2010
SCRAP LAND ACQTION FOR MINING 4-LANE
Four-wheeler traffic (non-mining) on Tilamol-Cotarli road is 30-50
vehicles/hour against the two-lane road capacity of 150 vehicles/hour. The
existing road can suffice for next 20 years. The mining traffic will not ply
on this road as the miners will pay Rs 500 cr to PWD to build bypass roads.
Thus the widening is ploy by politicians to fool people and to continue and
even increase mining traffic through the heart of Curchorem. Since the road
is for mining, it is not public purpose. Acquiring land under the guise of
public purpose is illegal. Spending public money for the benefit of rich
miners is unjust.
Curchorem is the 5th most populated municipality of Goa with a population of
30,000. Kakoda Health Centre and two major hospitals (Dr. Sonu Kamat and Dr.
Satish Kudchadkar) are on this road. 10000 students from 12 schools, an ITI
and a polytechnic commute on this road. No where in the world dirty cargo
like iron ore is hauled through the heart of such a town; not even in Bihar.
The government is well aware of the air and noise pollution and traffic
hazards mining traffic causes. If CM conducts proper study, Curchorem bypass
will get the highest priority.
The land losers will be subjected to immense losses in many ways. Many
people would lose houses, shops, compounds, trees, Crosses,
Tulsi-vrindavans, and parking spaces. Making poor people lose for the
benefit of miners is injustice.
Manch therefore demands that the widening may be scrapped and the land
acquisition be de-notified forthwith.
Manch also demands that steps be taken to give people solace from pollution
during the next mining season. Pollution problems are caused due to
exploitation of truck owners by the miners. Manch demands:
Increase the freight paid to truck owners by 30% and stop paying
politicians. This will help truck owners to take care of spillage. Miners
will not lose much if they give Rs 50 per ton extra to truck owners from
their profit of Rs 3000 per ton. Also create Provident Fund for truck owners
to protect their investment if China demand slackens. This PF should be
contributed by miners and government.
Babazinho Fernandes
Convenor
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