Caurem tribals march to Panaji, approaching SC to expose illegalities
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 18 April 2016 21:27 IST
Caurem villagers have decided to approach the court by next week if Goa government does not stop ongoing illegal transportation of iron ore in their village of Quepem taluka.
Hundreds of tribals marched to the Directorate of Mines in the capital city today, demanding that illegal transportation of ore be stopped immediately.
However, mines director Prasanna Acharya dismissed their demand of conducting inventory before transporting the ore.
He also told the protesting villagers that the department is monitoring the whole operation and there is nothing illegal in it.
The villagers, led by local panch Ravindra Velip, however insisted that the miners are transporting hidden ore from the village under the garb of e-auctioned ore.
“Let the court decide who is right and who is wrong. You require a third party when the government does not listen to the people”, Ravindra told goanews.com.
The apex court is presently hearing the petition filed by Goa Foundation, alleging procedural flaws committed by the state government while restarting the mining activity.
After Shah Commission pointed out illegal mining to the tune of Rs 35,000 crore, the Supreme Court in 2012 had banned mining in Goa that was lifted one year ago.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court had also ordered Goa government to confiscate the illegally extracted ore and e-auction it.
Villagers of Caurem were on the forefront also in 2012 to point out illegal mining going on in their village.
While local leader Nilesh Gaonkar was mercilessly beaten up in 2012, this time Ravindra was blind-folded an assaulted in a judicial lock up after police arrested them last month for stopping the ore transport.
According to Ravindra, the miners in their village had hidden the illegal ore from Shah Commission, claiming it to be mining rejects.
The same ore is being transported now along with the e-auctioned ore, which the same mining lease holders bid for.
Citing an example of a miner Dinar Tarcar, Ravindra alleges that this miner has hidden 7 lakh metric tonnes of ore while showing only 2.75 lakh MT ore on record.
“We know this because our people go to work on these mines and also transport the ore”, claims Ravindra.
He also asks why the mines department is hesitating to conduct the inventory if they claim that the villagers’ allegations are false.
Thus, they have now decided to approach the Supreme Court, alleging that the ruling politicians and the bureaucracy are colluding with the miners once again to commit illegalities.
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All GOAN TIATRISTS must come together at one platform and sing a Song for a Cause. In this Song, Goan Tiatrists must tell the Goans to protect Goa and indirectly must expose Congress for Corruptions and BJP for Communalisms. In this Song, Goan Tiatrists must ask Goans to stand United against Mopa Airport & Recovery of looted 35 Thousands Corers of Goans from Congress!