Eco-hostile Resolution on Goa Mining

The resolution taken unanimously passed by Goa Legislative Assembly on August 03, 2018 strongly recommending re-starting of mining in Goa is completely eco-hostile act on behalf of all elective representatives in House. However this is no shocker. Mining companies of Goa are known to be funding State and National Political Parties both ruling and opposition, their MLAs are therefore obliged to push ahead the agenda of the mining corporate. Plus several MLAs of Goa are direct and indirect beneficiaries of mining industry with open and covert business links.

Curtorim MLA Reginald Lorenco who had raised public hopes with some dissent to mining, gave in. Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha who is amongst the most sensitive and skilled having worked with late Mathany Saldanha and functioned as Goa’s Minister for Environment and Forest has betrayed for trees has no votes. Tribal Affairs Minister and Priol MLA Govind Gawde did not bother to have deeper look at the tribal communities’ expression of grievances arising from ecological damage caused by mining industry in Sonshi and Colomba. Their votes signified their co-option to the exploitative system in place.

The resolution to re-start mining in Goa completely exclude any mention to the ecological damage that mining has already caused: amount of water pumped out daily depleting ground water table, amount of forest land diverted for mining purpose, amount of trees cut down or buried alive under mining dumps, the intensity of pollution caused to the paddy fields and rivers.

On the contrary we have witnessed highly objectionable comments from the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who is also Goa’s environment Minister “Just on ground of environmental damage, is it right to stop mining activity?” Goa’s environment Minister has a mindset that is in needs of immediate correction. Can economy flourish by damaging environment? The very first meeting of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) minutes records that mining is biggest environmental pollution in Goa and barges transporting iron ore causes environmental pollution to Goa’s rivers, and massive public awareness is the need of the hour. When mining has caused such a high level of damage to Goa is it not the duty of the State government to stop mining forever and move people away from dependency on mining?

A month ago Indian Government’s Niti Ayog published study that warned of increasing shortage of fresh water in India. All water pumped out to extract ore in Goa is fresh water. Do any of the MLAs in Goa Legislative Assembly has data on how much ground water is pumped out from the legal and illegal mining pits in Goa ever since mechanization of mining in the decade of 1970s? Do they have information as to how many water bodies like wells in Sirgao has gone dry because of pumping out of ground water from mining pits? Do they have any data on how much of agriculture has been damaged due to flow of mining silt into paddy fields in Sattari, Bicholim, Ponda, Sanguem and Darbandora Talukas? How much unemployment and food insecurity has this created since 1970? It appears from the resolution that MLAs are only elected representatives lack moral courage and vulnerable to swings of cash and bullying.

Latest advertisements in Delhi Print media claim that mining in Goa is sustainable and eco-friendly. The extracted ore has reached shores of China, Japan, Pakistan and other countries as per records published by Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association and Goa’s ore is sustaining these foreign countries. From 1945 Goa’s ore export has contributed immensely in resurrecting Japanese economy shattered by nuclear bombings. From 2000 Goa’s major share of exports went of China. Goa’s exports sustained Japanese and Chinese economies. How mining has sustained Goa’s ecology?

In what way Goa’s mining is eco-friendly? Isn’t it repackaging of mineral farming concept? On the contrary very first minutes of GSPCB proves that mining is an eco-hostile industry causing irreversible damage to Forest, Agriculture, Horticulture and Rivers.

Former Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane, Poriem MLA is worst of all for his claims of not being aware of ecological damage due to mining. He must visit Pissurlem, Sirgao, Cavrem, Bicholim, Lamgao, Colomba, Advalpal, Honda, Sonshi and meet people who are staying and are at the receiving end of the mining industry.

The resolution to re-start mining by modifying Central Government mining laws is eco-hostile decision that will inevitably lead to Goa’s ecocide.

Sebastiao Rodrigues

Second attack on Sonshi mining protester

Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa Unit condemns second attack on Surendra Sablo Gawde early morning today July 17, 2018 in Sonshi, Sattari, Goa while on his way back home after night duty at work. He is leading protest against mining industry and has filed several petitions in Courts in Goa. Two men wearing black dresses with masks and with knives attacked him on Sonshi internal road. He managed to escape without sustaining any injury leaving his bike on the spot.

Surendra Gawade and GAKUVED Federation had filed complaint on 12.07.2018 at the Valpoi police station, office of the SP and before the ST Commission about the threat call and first attack.

Surendra Gawade and the mining affected villagers had filed petitions in the High Court, Goa Human Rights Commission and Goa ST Commission against the mining companies earlier this year for various violations by the mining companies.

No action by the Goa police or concern authorities till date. No FIR has been registered so far. It appears that all authorities are hand in gloves to intimidate Surendra Gawade and the tribal villagers of Sonshi. This incident proves collapse of constitutional machinery in Goa and rule of Manusmriti enforced deliberately for bamon supremacy and capitalism aggression.     

The very fact that in spite of nearly 2,000 personnel with Goa police Surendra is attacked by armed goons is clear sign that the command structure of goons has positive nexus with local MLA as well the Home Minister. It is totally unthinkable that when Goa has such good police system open attacks are launched against citizens. It looks as if Goa government is driving State of Goa towards civil war.

Attack on Surendra is the latest in the series of attacks witnessed recently like that on Nilesh Gaonkar and Ravindra Velip of Cavrem, Rama Kankonkar and Arturo D'Souza of Tiswadi. Lessons of history teach us that for the survival of Bamon Raj violence is actively engaged as strategy. 

Goa's home ministry even inducted special secretary who is an IAS officer Anjali Sherawat and several IPS officers and yet law and order is allowed to breach to benefit mining industry by violating Right to Life and creating fear in Society. People of Goa will be left with no option but to set Manusmriti ablaze in every vaddo of every village and city of Goa.

Jai Mulnivasi!

Acid attack on mining opponent in Honda, Sattari

Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa Unit condemns acid attack and threats to Sonshi mining protestor. Surendra Shablo Gawde from Sonshi, Sattari, Goa leads protest against open cast iron ore mining industry that compose of Vedanta, Sesa Goa, Quenim, Salgaocars amongst others.  Surendra is currently facing intimidation and threats from unknown culprits.  On June 30, 2018 unknown Hindi speaking man dashed against Surendra on the main road in Honda, Sattari, Goa; put something in his hand on Surendra's back shoulder and then quickly apologized and went away. Surendra proceeded home and found himself uneasy at shoulder back. He asked his mother to check his back and mother found bubbles underneath his skin. Not suspecting anything serious Surendra began treating wounds with home remedies but wound was slow to heal.

Then after four days on July 04, 2018 Surendra got an internet call on his mobile without any number. Caller identified himself as the same person who has dashed against him at Honda road and thrown acid on his back. Caller did not disclose his name and address but demanded that he withdraws all the cases against mining companies filed by him in various legal authorities.

  

After this Surendra informed his collaborators and villagers, and filed complaint at Valpoi Police Station where Shivram Vaingankar is currently Police Inspector. Police did not register FIR. On July 13, 2018 Surendra was called to the Police Station and taken for medical check up at Valpoi Health Centre, Valpoi. Doctor-on-duty after examining Surendra told him that he had wasted his half an hour and henceforth not to oppose mining industry in Sonshi. Identity of this doctor needs to be traced for giving such nasty advice. Police has to investigate whether local MLA Viswajit Rane is involved in pressurizing the doctor to communicate this message to all the mining protesters in Goa.  

  

Question arises as to whether this type of attack was on any bamon or Chief Minister or Ministers or Governor or IAS officer or IPS officer or IFS officer would police be as lazy as in this case of Surendra Sablo Gawde? Or are police under order from Home Ministry to act lazy so that extra-legal agents prowling around could intimidate protesters against mining?

Bharat Mukti Morcha express total support and solidarity with Surendra Sablo Gawde and his organization - GAKUVED. Bharat Mukti Morcha calls for investigations from Cyber crime cell in order to detect identity of the culprit and enforce arrest. If Goa's Home Minister wants he can easily find identity of the culprit and master mind behind this. The problem is that Home Minister of Goa is also the Mining minister. 

   

Discuss this message with at least five people in your contact. Then form local action group wherever you are to follow up on the matter. Together lets march towards Justice, together let’s build up Peace. Let’s together destroy dominating powers against humanity and against ecology. 

Jai Mulnivasi!

BMM condemns Sonshi mining arrests

Bharat Mukti Morcha (BMM) condemns the arrests of about 45 people including women from Sonshi, Pissurlem for protesting against mining ore transportation on April 11, 2017 and detained at Colvale Jail till date. BMM also takes note of posting from Ravindra Velip on facebook after his visit to Sonshi yesterday as follows:

"I along with my several other friends visited Sonshi village today. A village which was situated in the lap of the forests is now surrounded by six giant mining companies operating at less than radial distance of 100 mts. There are 60 to 65 households in this village of which 55 to 60 families are tribals. 9000 to 10000 trips are daily transported from this village by approximately 1200 mining trucks. You can imagine the Air and Water Quality in this village. Imagine the noise pollution that they are witnessing. When these tribals protested, they were arrested and sent in the Judicial lockup. 45 of them including women members are in Colvale jail from last 8 days. Their children and old age people who are at home are going through a tuff time. HELP THEM IF YOU CAN OR EXTEND YOUR SUPPORT"

Shonshi village earlier suffered irreversible damage to their paddy fields and and got absorbed reluctantly into buying of trucks and plying for various mining companies. The decsion of illegitimate Goa government to arrest Shonshi people is a war against natives by Goa's Bamani State. Shonshi-Pissurlem mining belt is under severe pressure from companies. They first finished off agriculture, ground then forest and huge cracks to ground reflects continues threat to life. Then they got village addicted to mining through mining trucks operation syphoning the village of minerals to be sent to Japan, China and other countries of the World. Now they are in the process of snapping the villagers of trucks business and sent them to Colvale Jail. Currently Sesa Goa owned by a British company Vedanta is carrying on most of the mining in that belt. The planet is under barabric plunder as the is being ripped and raped, homes and shattered and bled dry. Human dignity totally robbed off and visit Sonshi to know what a life without dignity is all about.

Poem "I love Pissurlem" by Sebastian Rodrigues reflects this reality and you may read at links 

http://mandgoa.blogspot.in/2008/04/i-love-pissurlem.html. 

What to do with this poem to support Sonshi?
1. Share links to your contacts
2. Take a printout on one page and organise discussions aount mining.
3. Study further the Economic and Political situation of Sonshi mining belt. You may read this report for more details:

http://mandgoa.blogspot.in/2008/04/chopper-attack.html

4. Approach members of Legislative Assembly to support People of Sonshi and withdraw support to the illegitimate Manohar Parrikar goverment formed through betrayal of masses of Goa and needs to be pulled down.
5. Gather at least five people and protest arrest of Sonshi villagers in your locality. If possible share report to the press friends or you may post below as comment.

Currently illegitimate Goa government formed unethically in everyway possible and functions as criminal enterprise with total moral bankruptcy. Out little actions will lead to collapse and dismantling of this Politician-Mining nexus. It must by noted that Sonshi is represented by Pratapsing Rane for past several decades and he cares a damn for environment and support mining completely even if peoples homes are shattered through mining: ecocide of Sattari and Vishwajit Rane and Pratapsingh Rane are committed to intensify it further or why else are they silent for decades together? Time for revolt yet again! It is a law of nature of nature: Every action has equal and opposite reaction, and every situation of oppression sows seeds of rebellion. So is it in Sonshi.

It is important to follow pattern in our approach always: Study. Organise. Agitate.

Jai Mulnivasi!