Pro-mining villagers block journos in Sanguem
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 28 September 2012 23:23 IST
Journalists from Goa and Maharashtra had to face ire of the angry locals in a mining area as they were blocked for around two hours today at Curpem, near Selaulim dam, in a mining area of Sanguem taluka.
A group of around 30 journalists, as a part of their two-day workshop on ‘greening the pen’, had organized a field trip to Selaulim dam and mining area.
While returning from Selaulim dam visit, angry mob of around 70 pro-mining villagers stopped their bus at Curpem in protest of newspapers writing in support of stopping the mining operations in Goa.
“They threatened to burn down our bus and even abused lady journalists in the bus”, alleged Raju Nayak, editor of Lokmat and president of Goa Marathi Patrakar Sangh.
The two-day workshop was organized by the Sangh, in association with Centre for Science and Environment, at Rivona.
Hearing the news, journalists from Margao and Sanguem rushed to the spot.
Angry locals told the journalists that they stopped the bus, thinking it belongs to the NGOs opposing illegal mining.
However, the journalist delegates told a press conference in Panaji in the evening that they were abusing the media for writing against illegal mining.
Reports reaching here indicate that truck owners and others dependent of mining activity from various areas of Sanguem taluka had gathered at Curpem.
“Why no media is writing about what hardships we are facing due to stoppage of mining operations”, asked some of the villagers to the journalists.
The whole drama went on from 12.30 pm till around 2 pm.
With intervention of the police, the journalists were later allowed to proceed to their camp site at Rivona.
Souparno Banerjee, programme director (media) of CSE, has condemned the manner in which the journalists were treated by the locals.
This is the side effect of illegal mining closure. No one likes the bitter pills. It is obvious that villagers will be irritated or unhappy with closure of mines.
Moreover, The innocent villagers are instigated by the goons of the mining lobby.
They feel that everyone is against their livelihood and that illegal mining is their only source of income.
Let the mining be banned forever These people will then find alternative employment or venture into their own to fend for themselves. Because illegal mining was their source of income in the past, it should not be allowed to continue. It is banned sooner the better.
Thats what happens when you actually never slog and get used to fast money.These pro miners are anpads backed by miners and politicians whose urge for fast and easy money keep pushing these illeterates transport operators ahead using them as bait for their vested interest.
Down with the mining and the those who support the transportation,It gained only those who had been financing them eapecially banks and most of bank managers/officials taking kickbacks and favours inreturn for approval of loans.
If the banks can't recover their loans is because the officials have been given kickbacks and the share holders of these co-operatives banks are in the dark pertaining to the shaddy deals of their banking officers.Mining should be banned and should be banned for good.or else keep digging till you'll get the mantle or core to the surface,thats the only way you'll rascals will be satisfied when you'll burn to hell in its rage.
Nature has its own ways and will hit back with fury very soon on account of these roudy clumsy ignorant bamtees transport operators and politician and miners
who are proactive supporters of these illegal activities.
Parrikar take stock of the situation before it goes out off hand for you and the BJP.Watchout goa may go crazy. soon