Illegal mining transportation in Colomba

Reports from Colomba, Sanguem, Goa indicate that from 13/12/2018 at 2.30 pm illegal iron ore mining transportation is going on. Mining lease that is cancelled was in the name of Badrudding Mavani and operated by Radha Timblo whose name was given by Government of India to Supreme Court of India for possessing bank account in Swiss bank. The transportation of  ore is being carried on to Capxem, Sanvordem Jetty. Efforts of mining interest to start mining legal has flopped and they have resorted to starting the same illegally.

All the mining sites has to be shut down and possessions taken over so that these type of incidents of illegal mining transportation does not come up causing hard to ecology and economy alike.  

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

Late Dayanand Gaonkar's house bulldozed at Colomba

 The State of Goa's Indigenous People, Gawdas can be gauged from the renew assault on from State Administration. The latest incident has come from Colomba, Rivona village in Sanguem Taluka on February 27, 2017. According to the reports flowing in officials from Mamlatdar's office in Sanguem went to Dayanand Gaonkar's house with three Pock-line machine declaring that his house is illegal and decided so by some case which we do not know as yet. Cruel demolition this time is not of any non-Goan by of indigenous people from Goa, the tribal family. 

Dayanand died few years ago while his wife and son survives and witnessed the roof over their shelter being torn down by the State Government machinery.  According to villagers around mining company is behind this demolition as it is trying get control over land for the purpose of mining. This village of Colomba has history of protest against mining and repression from the State administration protecting mining interests of Fomentos since 2007. The house selected for demolition this time was reportedly existed for past several decades in survey no. 49/1 of Colomba in Rivona village of Sanguem Taluka. Gaukar's family widow Kesar and her son are forced to live without house in open under the Jack-fruit tree close by. 

Six years back when Supreme Court ordered portion of Cidade de Goa Five Star hotel near Dona Paula to be demolished Timblo family who also owns Fomento mining company got then Congress Government headed by Digambar Kamat to change laws through ordinance followed by passing in the Legislative Assembly when BJP's Manohar Parrikar was the leader of the opposition. How come house belonged to Gawdas are demolished while 5 star hotel belonging to Bamon is protected through extreme steps? What is operating in Goa is Dictatorship of Bamons and Bharat Mukti Morcha strongly condemns the spirit of racism operating in Goa's administration as well as Political system.

Irrespective of what the legal status of Gaonkar's status it is complete violation of Human right to demolish their house and to leave them to fend for themselves and now one week has completed. This is one more remainder that Goa's Indigenous People are  subjected to oppression. 

The demolition of Gaonkar's house in the manner it was carried on raises question whether Goa's indigenous people are slaves and freedom of Goa as well as freedom of India is a myth than reality. What are the causes that has led to this state of affairs?

Book on Goa mining plunder published in Marathi

This book titiled Goveatil Khaniz Kazineachi Prachand Loot is authored by Sebastian Rodrigues and translated by Gurudas Gadekar is published by Mulnivasi Publication Trust in Pune. Book release function took place at Malda, West Bengal on December 24, 2012 at the BAMCEF 29th National convention in presence of its National President Waman Meshram and several other respected dignitaries.

The book examines earnings from export of iron ore from Goa from 1981 to 2011. Earning are correlated with the budget deficits of the Goa state with a critical questions. This book has 11 chapters and documents protests against mining industry in Goa and various issues related to the same including co-option tactics of the mining industry in Goa. 

Contribution of then active groups voicing opposition to mining industry namely GAKUVED, GGRM, and GOAMAP are documented. The book has 38 pages and suggested contribution is Rs.20/- only.

Bharat Mukti Morcha Colamb unit vice-president Motesh Antao is threat to Goa State Assembly Elections!

 Motesh Antao was awarded Youth Achiever award in 2010 in recognition for his resistance for mining in Goa. This is a picture from Goa sudharop website. This pecture shows Motesh being presented with the award from the hands of Rajendra Kerker, well known mulnivasi environmentalist from Goa. In the background is Mr.Ibonio Fernandes of Goa Sudharop group based in California, USA.

The above shows PI Santosh Desai charging at Motesh Antao on November 12 2008 while on protest against Hiralal Khodidas mine operated by Fomento company owned by Bamon Audoot Timblo causing large scale destruction of paddy fields and forest, water and air of colamb and western ghats. PI Santosh Desai was awarded Chief Minister's gold medal for his role in repressing revolt against mining industry.


Bharat Mukti Morcha's Colomba unit vice-president Motesh Antao has been decalred as a threat to Goa Assembly elections that are to take place on March 03, 2012. Motesh is a well know for his relentless resistance to mining industry specially to Fomentos owned by Bamon Audooth Timblo who also owns Cidade de Goa five star hotel. In order to silence Colamb villagers large number police cases has been filed against Colamb villagers and charge sheeted for the further process at Courts in Sanguem and Quepem. Motesh may be criminal to the brahmanical State of Goa but certainly he is a genuine freedom fighter for mulnivasi people of Goa that are tormented and repressed by Brahmanical State in place.


Motesh Antao has been repeatedly harassed and false cases filed against him just like others in Colomba, Sanguem. Last month on 20th December 2011 policemen PSI Prasal Desai had slapped him after Motesh refused to pay bribe of Rs.100/-. The details of this is available here.


The text of the letter show cause notice to Motesh Antao is as follows:


IN THE COURT OF THE DEPUTY COLLECTOR AND SUB DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE, AT SOUTH GOA DIVISION, QUEPEM GOA


Case No. SDM/110/5/2012/18


State rep by
Shri Chandrakant L. Rane, HC - 2923,
Quepem Police Station.                                      Complainant


V/s


Motes Antao s/o Avelino Antao,
R/o H.No.336, Colomba Rivona Sanguem          Opponent


SHOW CAUSE NOTICE UNDER SECTION 111 OF Cr.P.C.


Whereas it has been brought to my notice by the Police Inspector Quepem Police Sation that you are habitual offender and have been involved in following crimes

1. Cr.No.76/08 u/s 143, 147, 447, 341, 504 r/w 149 IPC
2. Cr.No.06/08 u/s 143, 147, 447, 148, 341, 352, 504, 506(ii) r/w 149 IPC
3. Cr.No.89/07 u/s 143, 341 r/w 149 IPC
4. Cr.No.78/08 u/s 143, 147, 448, 504, 506(ii) r/w 149 IPC
5. Cr.No.06/09 u/s 353, 504, 506(ii) r/w 34 IPC
6. Cr.No. 82/08 u/s 143, 341, 506 r/w 149 IPC
7. Chapter case No. 47/07 u/s 107 Cr.P.C.
8. Chapter case No. 69/08 u/s 107 Cr.P.C.
9. Chapter case No. 32/11 u/s 107 Cr.P.C.

It is further reported that in view of ensuring Elections to Goa Legislative Assembly, 2012, you are likely to threaten and intimate the voters, creating Law and order problem, commissioning of cognizable offence thereby causing obstacle/hinderance in conducting the smooth and fair Election.


Hence you are hereby directed u/s 116(3) of Cr.P.C to execute an interim bond of Rs.5000/- to maintain good behavior until the conclusion of inquiry.


You are hereby called upon on 09/01/2012 at 10.30 a.m and show cause as to why action should not be initiated u/s 110 of Cr.P.C. and direct to execute the bond of Rs.10,000/- of like amount to maintain good behaviour for a period of 6 months.


Given under my hand and Seal of this Court on this 02 nd day of January, 2012.


Sd/- with Seal


(R.D. Mirajkar)
Deputy Collector and Sub Divisional
Magistrate, Quepem Goa.


Forwarded to the P.I. Quepem Police Sation for service and return before date of hearing.


The I.O./Inquiry Officer is directed to the trace the whereabouts of the opponent and produce him before this Court on above date and time without fail.