-- Samir Umarye BICHOLIM The dust may have settled, but the anger is yet to dissipate in Mulgao. Days after the mudslide had left one villager injured, residents of Mulgao have insisted on a slew measures by the mining company to safeguard villagers and their property from further mudslides in the area. At a joint meeting convened by Bicholim Deputy Collector Narayan Gad in the Bicholim Mamlatdar’s office on Monday, the residents fear constant threat to their life and property in the village. The villagers initially demanded that the mining company should stop all work in the area, but the deputy collector was able to pacify the villagers. The villagers said a police case was filed against those responsible in the Mulgao mudslide and demanded
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: Residents of Mulgao-Bicholim attend a meeting at the Bicholim Mamlatdar’s office. Photo by Samir Umarye their immediate arrest. “Our life is in constant threat and the company cannot gamble with our lives. The mining company should ensure safety as a similar incident in the past had left four villagers dead," said Dasharath Gad. The villagers also demanded that every family residing in the area should be insured by the company as they live under constant threat of mining related disasters. Some villagers said the mining company should properly demarcate its border and should refrain from entering the village. “Once the company is given a lease, it slowly enters the village and so, we need proper demarcation of boundaries,” said a villager. Complaining about damage to agriculture, the villagers firmly demanded that the company should compensate the farmers by giving them Rs 3,000 for every 3 kilos of rice produced. “Ore has damaged many fields and they are now barren. The company should survey these lands and compensate every affected farmer and it should not begin mining work till this compensation is given to the farmers,” stated the villagers. Other villagers pointed out that many houses in the area had developed cracks and were upset that the company had ignored this issue despite several representations. Some residents insisted that the mining company should de-silt the lakes in the area, which are on verge of extinction. Sesa Goa Resource Mines (Bicholim) General Manager Krishna Reddy present at the meeting assured that the company is ready to compensate the villagers. “We are ready for talks and compensate the farmers but the villagers are not ready to listen to us,” Reddy told the deputy collector. Bicholim Deputy Collector Narayan Gad later requested the villagers to put forward their demands in writing and has convened another meeting on July 21 at 11 am to discuss the issue.
