Goa Forest under development aggression

Stripped Tiger and two cubs are moving around in Tuem, Pernem as per information received 24 hours ago. Forests of Pernem are facing aggression from Mopa Airport, Tourism cum real estste projects and irresponsible Forest administration in Goa that engages in innumerable sabotage. The situation is moving into dangerous phase after India "annexed Goa through conquest" in 1961 as Supreme Court of India noted in Gosalia Judgement. Democracy has proved to be conduit to current state of affairs with buying and selling of votes.

However we are happy to note Ray of hope from Morjim youth to fight back and protect nature and indigenous people in Pernem. We express our support to Mayur Shedgaokar and his newly formed team in Morjim.

Beware of growline fraudsters

 It has come to our attention that one company named growline involved in online investment and trading has been found cheating people who has invested capital with them. 

One person has been cheated with Rs.20,700/- two days back.

This message is to alert you to be careful of such online fraudsters.

Goa Government surrender Agricultural land to mining interests

It is saddening to note that Goa Government even though is preparing agriculture policy it has sabotaged Goa's farming interests through surrender to mining aggressions. Goa Legislative Assembly has not only committed blunder of the century but has also reduced themselves as merely executive committee of the mining companies. Long battle awaits us.

                      The text

Section 30 of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 "Permision for non-agricultural use.--- No land used for agriculture shall be used for any non-agricultural purpose; and no land assessed for one non-agricultural purpose shall be used for any other non-agricultural purpose or for the same non-agricultural purpose but in relaxation of any of the conditions imposed at the time of the grant or permission for non-agricultural purpose, except with the permission of the Collector under Section 32.

[Provided that the provisions of this section shall not be applicable to the land in occupation of the Government, Corporation of the City of Panaji, a Municipal Council or a Village Panchayat and land to be used for the installation of solar or wind power station.(inserted vide Ammendment Act 5 of 2021)] 

[Provided further that, nothing in this section shall apply to the activity undertaken in pursuance of the permission/licence granted under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (Central Act No. 67 of 1957) and rules made thereunder.(Inserted vide Amendment Act 6 of 2023)]

 

                    Implications

2023 Amendment to section 30 of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 carried on by Goa Legislative Assembly allows mining in agriculture land without any permision from Collector of the respective Districts in Goa.

                        Çonsequences

So now it is legal to take over paddy fields for mining purpose. There is no need for mining companies even to pay any compensation for crop loss due to siltation of fields.

           Matter of Choice

Goa Government has chosen mining over agriculture. Mining is all set to inflict artifical planned disaster in near future and Goa's legislature is complicit in it. People have to make their choice. Agriculture policy cannot supercede Land Revenue Code. Ģoa Agriculuture Minister Ravi Naik and the members of the drafting committee has to make their stand clear or no policy can work however good it may be if Amendment to section 30 allowing mining in agriculture is not withdrawn.

Kindly share this note further. 

Illegal early morning Sand mining in Mandovi

This video clip by anonymous went viral today on social media is from Naroa bank of Mandovi river in Bicholim taluka that captures illegal sand mining trade early  morning on 15 September 2023.

This indicated active container of Department of Mines and Geology, Goa Police and Mamlatdars of Tiswadi and Bicholim Talukas.

Naroa has been one of the Hotspot of daily illegal sand mining from mid-night to dawn. Other notable Hotspot include Vanxim island and Chamerem in Chorao island.

Yesterday six more cannoes are lined up in chamerem for illegal sand extraction. Cannoes are hidden inside Mangroves at Chamerem, Chorao.

There are other places of sand extraction tentacles have reached. One such place is Tikhazan in Naroa, Bicholim.

Current illegal sand Mining is being carried on with active conniving of Politicians and Police. Week ago raid was conducted against illegal sand mining in Vanxim. More details are awaited.

Goa Politicians surrenders agriculture to mining

 Goa Government surrender Agricultural land to mining interests 

It is saddening to note that Goa Government even though is preparing agriculture policy it has sabotaged Goa's farming interests through surrender to mining aggressions. Goa Legislative Assembly has not only committed blunder of the century but has also reduced themselves as merely executive committee of the mining companies. Long battle awaits us.

                      The text

Section 30 of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 "Permision for non-agricultural use.--- No land used for agriculture shall be used for any non-agricultural purpose; and no land assessed for one non-agricultural purpose shall be used for any other non-agricultural purpose or for the same non-agricultural purpose but in relaxation of any of the conditions imposed at the time of the grant or permission for non-agricultural purpose, except with the permission of the Collector under Section 32.

[Provided that the provisions of this section shall not be applicable to the land in occupation of the Government, Corporation of the City of Panaji, a Municipal Council or a Village Panchayat and land to be used for the installation of solar or wind power station.(inserted vide Ammendment Act 5 of 2021)] 

[Provided further that, nothing in this section shall apply to the activity undertaken in pursuance of the permission/licence granted under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (Central Act No. 67 of 1957) and rules made thereunder.(Inserted vide Amendment Act 6 of 2023)]

 

                    Implications

2023 Amendment to section 30 of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 carried on by Goa Legislative Assembly allows mining in agriculture land without any permision from Collector of the respective Districts in Goa.

                        Çonsequences

So now it is legal to take over paddy fields for mining purpose. There is no need for mining companies even to pay any compensation for crop loss due to siltation of fields.

                  Matter of Choice

Goa Government has chosen mining over agriculture. Mining is all set to inflict artifical planned disaster in near future and Goa's legislature is complicit in it. People have to make their choice. Agriculture policy cannot supercede Land Revenue Code. Ģoa Agriculuture Minister Ravi Naik and the members of the drafting committee has to make their stand clear or no policy can work however good it may be if Amendment to section 30 allowing mining in agriculture is not withdrawn.

Kindly share this note further. 

Dr. S.A. Rodrigues

Convenor,

Bharat Mukti Morcha,

Goa State

M: 9923336347

 To,

 

Shri Bhupender Yadav, 

Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,

Government of India, New Delhi

 

To,

 

Shri Ashwini Kumar Chowbey,

Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change,

Government of India, New Delhi

 

To,

 

Ms. Leena Nandan,

Secretary,

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,

Government of India, New Delhi

 

September 13, 2023

 

Subject: Request to deny Environmental Clearance to Vedanta Private Limited Block I Bicholim MIneral Block in Goa

 

Sir/Madam,

 

Greetings from Goa!

 

It has come to our attention from media reports in Goa that Vedanta Private Limited has approached Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to seek Environmental Clearance (EC). We write to you being highly responsible person in MoEF&CC with a request to deny EC to Vedanta Private Limited to avoid catastrophic consequences for the State of Goa. We thought it is prudent to alert you well in advance to avoid regrets later on.

 

EIA reports presented by Project proponents id defective on several grounds. River Bicholim is Flood prone river but this information is concealed in the EIA.

 

2023 Disaster Management Plan for North Goa District records that this mine is likely to trigger disaster for Bicholim town and Sirigao village.

 

2019 study (attached with this email) carried on by Department of Marine Science, Goa University has conclusively proved that mining activities from this mine has polluted Bicholim River to a dangerous level.

 

EIA report reveals that ore to rejection ratio is goin to be 1:8.39. This means that there will be overburden of 2,51,70,000 tonnes per year. Undoubtably this will run off into the Bicholim River through outlets as the height of the mining site is given as 169 meters. This mean gradient will be very steep. Consequently monsoon will rip apart ecosystem with the might of gutsy monsoons washing away mining rejection in surrounding water bodies.

 

There are 13 lakes covering nearly three hectares of space within the mining lease limits in Mulgao. Additionally within 3 Top are there are three lakes, five springs emerging out of foothills of 3 Top hill. Several Hectares of arecanut palantations, rice fields source the water supply from these water bodies

 

There are number of houses within lease limits. Mulgao village alone has 223 houses withing lease limits. Similarly there are more houses withing mining lease limits in other core zone villages. In Lamgao village there are 50 houses and 05 temples within mining lease. In the event of granting of EC from your office these houses are liable to be demolished in order to extract ore, Of course you will care to protect Goa’s ecology at our appeal only if you care or you wont. But we wish to let you know that we care and that’s why we knock your ears. Even village crematorium is missing in EIA.

 

Because of this mine there are frequent flooding of river.

 

At the Public Hearing conducted based of 622 page EIA report just 10 minutes were allotted per speaker. This is an arbitrary way of conducting public hearing violating even the common sense that 622 pages of EIA cannot be critically asses within 10 minutes. Project Proponent’s consultant was absent for the Public Hearing till late evening. Speakers who wanted to clarifcation did not get to question the consultant till in the evening. And in the evening too only 05 minutes were granted to question.

 

Assanora river is close to 15/1941 mining leases and now component of amalgamated mining lease at the distance of 10 meters. No ten meter barrier exists between river and mining pit as claimed in EIA/EMP.

 

All the above indicate that the method of baseline data collection adopted is defective and there are serious doubts on the timing of study being during Covid-19 lockdown as stated in project proponent’s application form before your office.

 

Wells (indicators of ground water) in close proximity from core zone are missing in EIA report.

 

Consusltant backtracked on the claims that this mining project is greenfield project. This mining site is in operation for last 80 years with its beginning in 1941.

 

In violation of Terms of Reference Project proponent intents to use public road used by civilians of around 900 meters. This will put life of the civilians under serious life threatening risk.

 

Rainfall noted in EIA is 3500 mm which is wrong.

Thanking you,

Yours truly,

Ramesh Gauns, 

Bicholim

M: 9270085105

Dr. Sebastiao A. Rodgigues,

Convenor, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa State

M: 9923336347

Vanxim in the context of Goa Agriculture Policy

There are several acres of agricultural land that are taken over through legitimate or illegitimate means for non-agicultural interests such as tourism, mining, real estate, educational institutions, roads, highways, highway expansions and industrial estates over the last three decades in the name of development. This has certainly provided big jolt to Goa's food security and traditional livelihoods systems that were essentially self-sustaining. Current churnings around drafting of Goanagricultire policy has provided added impetus for a collective reflection across state of Goa. 

While it is welcome initiative from the Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik to initiate this policy there remains looming concerns about the process and the scope of the policy intentions as put out by Director of Agriculture on May 23, 2023 with later amendments.

State of Goa has brazenly launched war on Goa's food security through multi faced attacked on Goa's land that sustained people in Goa for generations together. Unfortunately State wasn't alone in this ghastly aggression. Goa Archbishop and now Cardinal too joined the race to ruin Goa. With a masterful stroke of a monster he sold off Vanxim paddy fields to his Altinho neighbour Mahendra Gaunekar at a price less than peanut in 2007. This land then got under control of Bangalore based scamster Satyamurti Vasudevan in 2015 and came under IPB jurisdiction through cabinet decision. It's classic study on abuse of position and power by State and Religious authority. Goa Archbishop's office was well aware of Vanxim paddy fields going in the hands of corporate ruffians from the agreement to sale of Vanxim that was executed by then Archbishop Raul N. Gonsalves in April 1999. Yet monstrous trail was allowed to be completed.

From 2010 Mahendra Gaunekar initiated legal proceedings against all the tenants and deemed purchasers in the office of Deputy Collector at Panjim for condonation of delay with Santa Monica Society as the interested party. Deputy Collector passed orders in favour of Mahendra Gaunekar even though deputy collector has no power to do so as argued before Administrative Tribunal by none other than Adv. Mahesh Sonak representing Mahendra Gaunekar and currently Judge at Goa Bench of Bombay High Court. The cases then got revived at Mamlatdar court at Panjim seeking erasure of tenants. Out of 70 tenants on record- 35 from Vanxim and 35 from Naroa, Bicholim (to whom Vanxim people had given to cultivate but tenancy law gave them infinite tenure right over land) nearly 66 connived into getting their names erased as tenant submitting falsely that they never cultivated paddy fields in Vanxim and their names on form I & XIV form was by mistake. Most of them never had their own lawyer and surrendered their land cheaply. Those few who had their lawyer entered into costly deals and got paid several lakh. We were offered too and we refused steadfastly and litigation continues. And this is the reason paddy fields of khazan nature in Mandovi though sold off yet remains under litigation and legal hurdles persists. In not a single instance Archbishop's lawyer in Deputy Collector's court stood up to state the truth that tenants indeed cultivated paddy fields.

Most people in Vanxim seems to have understood as to how Ozone corporate hoodwinked them are now more alert than before.

Bharat Mukti Morcha has called for the investigations into the Vanxim deal with clear terms of references. Unfortunately even CBI has refused to investigate saying that Vanxim is beyond the CBI Jurisdiction.

Inspite of all the blocks in all side we have marched on with flame of dissent in our hand. We walked for 13 years and we invite you to join the journey ahead.

Challenge for all of us is (1) How do we get Ozone kicked out from Vanxim (2) How do we reclaim legal titles again on Vanxim paddy fields (3) How do we start cultivation paddy back again with all the hard work and diligence. 

How do we situate Vanxim khazan fileds in the context of Agriculture Policy for Goa much beyond State interpretation? What is people interpretation of Agriculture policy? Considering that several politicians on Goa who are in the Assembly and Parliament allegedly being palm greased by Ozone agents negative approach to Vanxim from politicians and State agencies are anticipated. What we need to focus is on People interpretation and enforcement of agriculture policy to overcome variety of official blockades to ensure Agriculture in Goa is revived inspite of all the blocks.

Time to shut down Goa Mines and Geology Department forever?

It has been revealed that due to callous attitude of Goa Department of Mines and Geology 223 Mulgao (Bicholim taluka) residential houses and village agriculture land has been included within the boundary of the mining lease. 

Paddy fields already witnessed meter and half thick layer of silt rendering cultivation of rice impossible just like Sirgao. Horticulture crops yields has drastically dropped just like Pissurlem. Water sources of the village like wells, springs, lakes has suffered terrible blow due to mining activities already by Dempo Mining Corporation and then by Sesa owned by Vedanta, London based corporate. For years together agriculture progressively ruined.

On August 11, 2023 Vedanta private limited carried on Public Hearing for this very mine (Block I Bicholim Mineral Block) to seek Environmental Clearance from Central Government that will be valid for 50 years like the mining lease!

Mining department officials know all this but it pretents deaf. The way irresponsibility of mining Department is increasing the only solution looks to be to shut it down permanently as it's stupidity has taken dangerous infinite proportion at corporate dictates.

Stupidity of Goa Department of Mines and Geology that is headed by Chief Minister himself is supervised by brahmin supremacy organisastion RSS with its headquarters at Nagpur. This headquarters -as a matter of fact - was shut down on October 06, 2022 after 2.5 lakh People marched to the office forcing exodus of all the inmates including its Supreme commander sarsanchalak. 

If mining industry continues its aggression then people of Goa will be compelled to take certain decisive steps against RSS and that means swelling the ranks of Bharat Mukti Morcha currently led by Waman Meshram.  Yet again Time for decisive action arrived. The powers that are committed to destroy Goa's agriculture and ecology through mining are of national and international nature. Consequently we need response that is not only local but also national and international in character. Let's explore further in this direction.

Goa Fisheries Corpus Fund Fraud

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union

08 September 2023

To,

The Secretary ( Fisheries )

Government of Goa,

Porvorim, Goa

Subject: Follow up to our 28/08/2023 meeting with you regarding corpus funds irregularities etc.

Sir,

Please find following annexed RTI doccuments we received from Goa Fisheries department attached with this letter:

1. Minutes of the 5th meeting of Corpus fund scrutiny committee held on 10 November 2020.

2. Minutes of the 4th meeting of the managing committee of the corpus fund held on 17 May 2023. Participation of Shri Francisco Braganza at the meeting has no gazzetted appointment. Hence this meeting is invalid and all the decions taken at this meeting are invalid. This include decision to overlook payment of five instalments by Sanjay Faterpekar to his cannoe that got burned in accidental fire on 19 March 2023. Sanjay Faterpekar is sanctioned Rs. 40,000/- at this meeting based on only two installments out of five he paid totally. Director of Fisheries has agreed on meeting with us on 21 August 2023 that this is a mistake by the managing committee but there is no provision in the scheme to do the correction. We find this position ridiculous. From discussions with him we realized that corpus fund scheme was amended after collecting two instalments for fishing net insurance and collected amount was never returned to the fishermen. We however understood that if department desires corpus fund scheme can be amended to suit specific needs. You are therefore requested to pay attention to this issue and if necessary, bring about necessary Ammendment in the corpus fund scheme to ensure that Sanjay Faterpekar gets justice by getting remaining Rs. 60,000/- without any further delay and procedural hurdles like corpus fund having no provisions to effect corrections to the mistakes committed by the managing committee.

3. Gazzate notification dated 23 May 2023 where in this corpus fund was created through scheme "Natural Calamity Relief to Fishermen" wherein accidental fire is covered. We attach this document to you to prove wrong the statement of Mr. Chandrakant Velip, deputy director of Fisheries department at our above refered meeting with you on 28 August 2023 wherein he stated that accidental fire to cannoes are not covered under this scheme. Mr. Velip has involved in deliberate act of providing false information to you in our presence and you are requested to initiate action against him for acting against traditional small scale fishing communities interests and intimate us about the same. There are number of other such mischief he has played with us and if need we will create record and present to you. Do let us know.

Thanking you,

Yours Truly, 

Shaila D'mello

President

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary