Its unbelievable that Goa Government as created mining lease Cudnem block VII with 5.3612 ha of forest land within. These are the times of acute ecological crisis and such disgust to note that Goa's forest is on the way go for Vedanta, British mining company.
Cudnem mineral block consisting of 75.30 ha of land is going for Public Hearing today 18 October 2024 at 10.00 am at Ravindra Bhavan, Sanquelim for both mining of the ore as well as beneficiation plant which is essential environmentally dirty bussiness of washing of the iron ore extracted from an open cast mining pit.
Mining lease covers Sattari-Bicholim border villages of Honda, Sonshi and Cudnem and have already experienced mining tragedy for several decades.
EIA and EMP reports put out in Public domain by GSPCB itself has observations that are damaging. The entire location of the proposed mining activities are in ecologically highly sensitive area and it have several watery features.
Para 3.3 outlines how many rivers, nallas, dams, lakes etc flow from distance close to the mining lease:
"Water Bodies (Note: There are other several Water Bodies within 10 kms buffer area) Harvalem water fall 1.65 km, Cudnem River 0.23 km, Mandovi River 3.88 km, Valvanti River 3.95 km, Anjuem Dam 9.72 km, Bicholim River 9.30 km, Mhadai River 7.32 km, Seasonal Nalla Near Khodginum Village 1.70 km, Seasonal Nalla within the Mineral Block, Within the Mineral Block Area PP Shall maintain 50 m buffer Dhakul, Lake 3.95 km, Taleshwar Lake 3.90 km Crocodile Lake 4.71 km, Mandodari Lake 5.76 km, Batwadi lake 6.87 km, Ajobachi talee Lake 7.84 km, Banana Water fall Zarme 8.00 km, Cumbarjua Canal 8.08 km, Aerekere Lake 9.08 km, Advoi Nalla 8.00 km, Ragada River 9.6 km."
Wetlands too are listed:
"Navelim (Not Notified) 1.90 Betal Temple Lake (Draft notified) 8.86 km, Kolamwada Lake (Draft Notified) 5.50 km, Vijayadurga Lake (Notified) 7.91 km, Banastari 9.49 km."
Impact on ground water is noted at para 4.7.2:
"The mining operations shall intersect the ground water table as the deepest mine workings in the mining plan period is -10.5 mts. Therefore, it requires major pumping operations."
EIA report is categorical about Impact on wetlands at para 4.8.5:
"There are few wet lands present within the study area of 10 kms radius. The nearest wetlands to the mineral block area are Navelim (IBA) : 1.90 kms, Betal Temple Lake (Draft notified) -8.86 Km Kolamwada Lake (Draft Notified ) -5.50 km Vijayadurga Lake (Notified) -7.91 Km, Banastari -9.49 Km
Major impacts of mining on wetlands are anticipated:
"Destruction of wetland habitat:
Mining can indirectly damage the Habitat & environment.
Water pollution: Mining can pollute surface and groundwater with chemicals like heavy metals i.e., Iron, Manganese, and toxic metals.
Degradation of growth conditions: Mining can degrade the conditions for growing wood, land vegetation, and water flora and fauna.
Bird’s migration: Mining can cause wild species to migrate and reduce their numbers.
Aquatic Life : Mining can also effect the aquatic life
Reduction of wild-growing plants: Mining can reduce the number of wild-growing plants.
Water pollution
Impact on population in buffer zone (Page 133) covered under para 4.9.1 as under:
Majorly water pollution will be the suspended matter which flow from the mine during rainy season into the nearby nallahs. There is one Seasonal nalla within Mineral Block
1. Cudnem river – 0.23 km
2. Harvalem Water falls – 1.65 km.
Major Health Impact due to dust on Habitation warned:
Respiratory diseases due to dust Skin diseases due to pollution/ dust etc.
4.9.5 Impact on cropping patterns (Page 135) is familiar admittance:
The mining activities may impact agriculture due to air pollution, flowing of silt in agricultural land.
Para 6.3.5.1 notes about ground water levels:
"Water levels in wells at varying distances all around the project area shall be monitored every month." This is major blow from Vedanta Limited will come onto ground water of the locality. It's huge price to pay and must never be allowed.
Para 6.4 of EMP has brief note about Reporting Schedule:
"The environmental monitoring report will be sent to Goa State Pollution Control Board on a monthly basis and MoEF&CC & CPCB on a six-monthly basis. Copies of the reports will be maintained at the Mine and will be made available to the concerned inspecting authorities like Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), GSPCB, MOEF &CC etc." It's clear that Public will have no access to the monitored reports while Impact will have to be faced by public.
Table 3.19 has a column titled Pre-mining use and area of land use of the mining lease of the total 75.30 ha. It has detail break up data of land use. Of this three items are significant:
1. Degraded by Pits & Excavation 19.757 ha
2. Degraded by Dumps and Material Standing 14.5936 ha
3. Covered under mine infrastructure 1.9582 ha
Together the above three items totals 36.12 ha which is more than 50% of mining lease minus 5.3612 ha of land under forest. So even though there is claim of pre-mining use the land is already used for mining.
Para 2.6.4 of EIA details out sourcing of daily requirements of 95 KLD for mining purpose. Daily 10 KLD will be sourced from buffer villages wells. Closest 5 kms radius buffer zone village list given as under:
1. Poriem
2. Podocem
3. Arvelem
4. Virdi
5. Sanquelim
6. Amona
7. Navelim
8. Surla
9. Bonus
10. Pissurlem
11. Honda
12. Valvai
13. Velguem
14. Saleli
15. Morlem
Life of the mine mentioned in EIA as 20 years and life of the lease is 50 years. This means all the above mentioned 15 villages will be sucked of water directly daily for decades to come. Is this sacrifice worth doing for the sake of profit of single mining company?
Vedanta has put in its application to Forest department for conversion of forest land to mining purpose. It has also applied to Water Resources Department to pump water out from existing mining pit that was originally operated by Dempos till sold off to Sesa Goa, a subsidiary company of Vedanta.
Vedanta has carried on need based survey for SC/ST population in buffer zone of 10 kms but usurped SC land within mining leased hence its a stolen land and litigations are in the court of law even though EIA report denies this fact.
Cudnem mineral Block VII is one more step towards Goa's ecological destruction through mining blunders.
Goa is too precious and worth fighting for, worth burning mid-night lamp for the sake of life with dignity and freedom. Let's go forth boldly!
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