http://www.oheraldo.in/news/Main%20Page%20News/Locals-mine-truckers-now-on-warpath/47838.html
Locals, mine truckers now on warpath SHWETA KAMAT *In the past week, acute tensions between the people of Cavrem village and the administration reached a flashpoint. It was the old enemy again — mining. Herald travels to Cavrem, the Village at War* Cavrem, April 30: For a fortnight and one day, Chandrakala Velip, draped in the traditional saree, is taking on the might of the mining lobby, along with other villagers. Her daily schedule is now spiced with two survival “must dos”. First she cooks meals for her family in great haste and then, dashes off to the village main road to join fellow villagers, who are keeping a spirited vigil to ensure that no loaded dust-spewing mining trucks pass through their village. What started off as a minor scuffle between the villagers and truck drivers has now erupted into a full blown war against illegal mining in this tribal belt. “It’s now 16 days since we regularly police our village road to prevent ore-loaded trucks from plying through the village”, Chandrakala proudly narrates along with many other women. Their fight for a dignified life and clean environment has already borne fruits. Five mines, operating in the vicinity of the village, have stopped transporting ore from the site. “One mine was closed after we marched to Mines Department office in Panjim”, Chandrakala proudly informs. Chandrakala and fellow villagers have a reason to decry the incessant mining in Cavrem village, which comprises two wards – Velip Wado and Gaonkar Wado. “Look at this farm. Since generations, we have been cultivating chillies here during summer. This year, almost 90 per cent of the crop has been devastated, due to mining”, she said gesturing towards the field, where crop rotation is done by sowing paddy in the monsoons and chillies in summer. The fight of Cavrem villagers against mining is a fight for the soul of the village and its survival. The village is located at the foot of Devapan Dongor, which is considered as sacred by villagers. Emphasizing the sanctity of the hill, Ankush Velip, an electrician by profession, narrated how the women folks are not allowed even to walk up the hill, which is housing Mat, and where tribals believe that God’s spirit rests. While tribals have held this belief over generations, a mine owned by one Sheikh Salim has already started exploiting the hill. The mining activity ceased after tribals protested infront of Mines and Geology Department, in Panjim. “I have personally seen how the mining machinery had mercilessly felled the cashew plantations”, Ankush narrated, showing the vast mining dump which overlooks four other mines. The villagers state that their fight against mining trucks goes much deeper than the superficial opposition to movement of ore carrying trucks, it is about our livelihood. “Almost half of our water springs are drying up since mines are draining the watertable”, Tulsidas said. Cavrem, which does not get piped water from PWD, has traditional system of harvesting water from the mountain. The water which emanates from the upper most spring is collected in the tanks along the slope and supplied to the entire village, with a population of 3,000 people. “We may have to desert our village, if the water source dries up”, laments Tulsidas Velip, who was the first to have a physical fight with a truck owner, which led to the current agitation. “Neighbouring Upatwada villagers have already deserted their village”, he added. The villagers stated that four other mines owned by firms like Jayram Nevgi which is operated by Dinar Tarcar, G N Agarwal operated by Fomentos, Ajit Kadnekar operated by Magnum and another mine have been extracting ore much beyond their capacity. A local activist said that the rush for exploitation of Cavrem began in 2005, when demand for iron ore in China, surged. “Everything was tolerable till 2005. Suddenly, Cavrem caught the eyes of mine owners”, Ankush said, adding that while four mines are operational, four more leases are dormant, and these could be activated at any time. The villagers claim that mining in Cavrem goes back to the Portuguese era, when a small mine was excavated with conventional methods. “It was a small mine and hardly few trucks ferried ore then. Probably just one truck a month or so”, Ankush said. Now Cavrem has 1,500 trucks which make at least three trips per day. The dust pollution here is unbearable. “Children and elders alike are suffering from various respiratory disorders. Government should conduct health check up here”, Tulsidas said. The villagers are also trying to have an environmental orientation to their agitation. Nature has come to their rescue, in the fight to preserve their environment by way of frequent tiger sightings at the adjacent hill. This, the villagers say, has given a ray of hope. “There is a belief that if there is a tiger sighting then there cannot be mining in that area”, an elderly villager said. They claim that they have collected the pugmarks of the tiger and handed them over to the forest department, almost a fortnight ago. They are pinning their hopes on their own grit and determination and nature gods to restore their pristine village to themselves. Operations shut: Mines and Geology Department on Saturday said that the operation at Cavrem and Gavnem mines closed for not adhering to norms has not restarted. Sources from Mines Department confirmed receiving official letters from both mining companies stating closure of work. “The managements of both mines have written to the Department that they have stopped operations”, sources said. Earlier, last month, the Department had issued closure order to the controversial M/s Devapan ou Devadongor Iron and Manganese mine, after it was found that despite closure order in December 2010, the mine owner was continuing operations. Around 150 tribals under the banner ‘Cavrem Adivasi Bachao Samiti’ had protested for almost 12 hours at the Mines Department. “It’s the duty of locals to bring to the notice of the department if these mines operate at night”, sources said. The issue is likely to figure before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on mining scheduled to meet on Monday. Recently, PAC under chairmanship of leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar had recommended setting up of two check posts along the volatile Cavrem-Quepem route to keep a tab on mining trucks. The meeting was also attended by a delegation from Cavrem. -- Please post your comments on my Blog: http://goanidentity.blogspot.com/ Please also see below: 1. Benaulim Village Action Committee: http://www.bvacbenaulim.blogspot.com/ 2. "Rape of Goa" : http://www.parrikar.com/blog/the-rape-of-goa/ 3. MAND - an adivasi-rights resource centre : http://mandgoa.blogspot.com/ 4. EVERY GOAN SHOULD SEE THIS VIDEO: http://infochangeindia.org/Infochange-documentary.html 5. Goa's Identity Movement group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com//#/group.php?gid=193497031686 6. Official Government Site NRI Office (GOA): http://www.globalgoans.org.in/