-- Samir Umarye
BICHOLIM FEB 7: A little known village in Bicholim taluka has been fighting a lone battle against a mining company since the past five years, in a desperate bid to save the village from imminent destruction. Inspite of strong opposition from the locals, since last five years, the proposed mining at Vathadev Bicholim is slowly taking shape with the support of politicians and money power. It may be stated that the news of the proposed mine at Vathadev hit the taluka in December 2006. There was a strong opposition from not only from the villagers but also from the people of Bicholim. On 18th January, 2007 a public hearing was called at Sanquelim and the locals went in large number shouting out anti-mining slogans and forced the authorities to postpone the hearing based on technical ground. The mine representatives were unable to submit the required documents and so the hearing was postponed to March 24. On the proposed day the hearing was held in the village and taking into consideration strong opposition to the project police force was also deployed at the site. The public hearing proved historic as people attended in large number and all voiced their opposition against the proposed project. Assurance was given to the public that their say would be communicated to the government and the project would be stalled if it is aganist the public interest. But surprisingly without considering the public hearing the mining lobby got the required senctions from the central government. In the meantime, the locals formed Vathadev Nagrik Kruti Samiti and continued with the protest. During one of the rally the workers from the Cosme Pharma company also participated as the mining company had proposed the shifting of the company to another location. Since then the company tried several means to woo the villagers. Money power was used to split and some of them fell prey to these techniques of the company. Now after about five years the mining company has again raised its ugly head. The matter came to light when the locals noticed that the company had started cutting down some of the rare trees and clearing the area. To add to this the company also built a concrete shade and is now slowly in a process of getting heavy machinery on the proposed site. When this correspondent went to the spot there were three earth moving vehicles stationed at the site with two security guards placed round the clock. "The matter is still in the court and the mining has started with their work which is against the law" environmentalist, Ramesh Gawas told adding "the NOC that the mining had taken from the Pollution Control Board has also expired and still the work is going on in full swing." "There is the Tillari canal passing through the area and the construction work is coming very close to the canal besides they have also dumped huge piles of mud near the canal which would also be a problem for the canal" he told "the trees cleared by the mining were some of the rare trees and as per the rule they cannot cut such ageold trees which are important for the ecosystem." As per the locals the Irrigation minister, Vishwajeet Rane is supporting the mining company. "On one side the minister claims that he is encouraging agriculture with new schemes but on the other he is helping the mining lobby to destory it" alleged the Vathadev Nagrik Kruti Samiti President, Pramod Umarye. If the mine comes up in the area not only the wells in the area would dry but it would directly affect the Bicholim river as the proposed mine is just next to the river. The Kulagars which are extended to about 1 lakh Sqmts would be the first to feel the heat of this mine. The Tilari canal also passes through the proposed mining area with mining lease survey No 57, 58, 62, 64, 72, 76 and 97 and because of this it would also be severly affected. The government in 2009 had spent about 9 crore for disilting the Bicholim river and all this would be proved useless if mining comes up at Vathadev as during rainy season water along with the silt would directly go into the Bicholim river and thus create floods in Bicholim. Inspite of all this the government has turned nelsons eye towards the issue. The mining company has succeeded in getting the required sanctions from the central government they are yet to get an NOC from the District collector who is also the chairman of the Disaster Managment and if they succeed in getting the same Bicholim would see yet another mine just that this time the owner would be different.
