Poised to fall?Rajendra P Kerkar <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toireporter/author-Rajendra-P-Kerkar.cms>,TNN | May 27, 2014, 01.09 AM IST
Times Panchanama - Advalpal - Bicholim Bicholim is a mining-dominated taluka and its five-ward village panchayat of Advalpal is no exception. So although the activity has been shut for the last 20 months, several of the 2,500 villagers are worried with the monsoon looming on the horizon. They point out that the upcoming wet season's heavy downpours inevitably cause landslides and siltation that account for the destruction of their fields and several other inconveniences. The panchayat's jurisdiction, spread across 637.35 ha, has within it three mining leases. Adika Padloskar, a primary school teacher and resident of Advalpal, says, "My house is at the foot of a hill atop which is a huge mining dump, while another mine is nearby. Some monsoons ago we experienced landslides caused by mining activities, and ever since, whenever the monsoon is set to start we start our period of sleepless nights due to the mining dump over us." Netaji Dattu Gaonkar, a 51-year-old shopkeeper from Gaonkarwada, adds, "Before 1973, our village was beautiful and culturally rich. There was ample water, the soil was fertile, people here were hardworking and would toil their fields. Mining changed everything. Our agricultural and horticultural fields got silted and degraded and today only a few survive, away from the mining areas, but they struggle for water. We have lost our self-sufficiency." Recounting that the first mine in the village was started during the Portuguese regime at Orosso Dongor, deputy sarpanch Gajanan Palkar says that though this and other mining leases were not operated for a long time, no mitigation measures were ever taken. "There are some deserted mining sites that are severely degraded and some of the mining pits have turned into death traps for animals," he claims. As for agriculture, he says, "Our panchayat has been working with the zonal agricultural office at Bicholim to encourage agricultural and horticultural activities in our wards." Acknowledging that mining "has caused some losses" sarpanch Lakshata Desai says, "There are many families who are eagerly waiting for mining to resume at the earliest. We want legal mining to restart so that the unemployed workers can get their source of livelihood back." Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal, when contacted, told TOI, "The government should take necessary steps to resume mining. A large number of youth in Advalpal are unemployed, are discouraged from agriculture, and are looking at mining with hope." Problem problem Tourism potential? With Santeri as its presiding deity and Vetal, Ravalnath and Purmar its affiliate deities, Advalpal has several temples including those of deities brought from Nachinola and Saligao in Bardez taluka during the Portuguese reign. Yet, this potential for cultural tourism is yet to be explored by state authorities, say villagers. Road rue Dhangarwada in Advalpal has no tar road. Sameer Laxman Shelke, who hails from this ward, says, "During the monsoon we have to struggle hard just to reach the main village." The 21-year-old claims that the community barely enjoys any civic amenities and faces several problems "as we lack ownership of land documents". Top View Mining has caused some losses, but there are many families eagerly awaiting its resumption. We want legal mining so that the unemployed workers can get their source of livelihood back Lakshata Desai, sarpanch The government should take necessary steps to resume mining. A large number of youth in Advalpal are unemployed, are discouraged from agriculture, and are looking at mining with hope Naresh Sawal, Bicholim MLA People's Take My house is at the foot of a hill atop which is a huge mining dump, while another mine is nearby. Some monsoons ago we experienced landslides caused by mining activities, and ever since, whenever the monsoon is set to start we start our period of sleepless nights Adika Padloskar, teacher & Advalpal resident Before 1973, our village was beautiful and culturally rich. Mining changed everything. Our agricultural and horticultural fields got silted and degraded and today only a few survive but are struggling for water. We have lost our self-sufficiency Netaji Dattu Gaonkar, shopkeeper from Gaonkarwada There are some deserted mining sites that are severely degraded and some of the mining pits have turned into death traps for animals Gajanan Palkar, deputy sarpanch -- FN P +91-832-2409490 M +91-9822122436 http://goa1556.in -- -- Saligao-Net is at http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe email [email protected] --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Saligao-Net" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
