Press note on Vedanta Bicholim mine

Appeal No. 30 of 2024 has been filed against Vedanta Ltd Challenging Environmental Clearance to Bicholim Mines, Goa

These are the following grounds

Mining Lease wrt Survey No. 25 canot be enforceable. As Survey No. 25 is Lamgao Lake, a wet land. This can not be used as a settling pond. Mining in water body is strictly prohibited.(Rejoinder Para-6)

Vedanta suppressed its previous illegal mining in its present Bicholim Mining Lease Area. In response to the Para 4 ‘Miscellaneous’ 4.6 of the TOR, state of Goa gave in its clarificatory Letter gave false information regarding illegal mining. 

Lamgao Lake is completely destroyed due to illegal mining by PP. No action Plan in EIA to protect the Lake.

Vedanta Ltd was selected as the preferred bidder in the said auction for Block I Bicholim mineral block and accordingly LOI was issued to Vedanta Ltd. As per the MoEF&CC EAC minutes of meeting, in case of LOI grant it is classified as green field and hence in the EIA it has been mentioned as green field. There is no hiding of facts as alleged by the speaker/ goa foundation, as the earlier pits can be seen in the surface plan which is provided as plate no 5 of EIA. (1313)

No Cumulative impact assessment was done properly. Page-19

Suppression of presence of 13 lakes inside mining lease Area. PAGE -18,Para-2

The PP encroached upon the Communidade land without permission to transport the vehicles loaded with Iron Ore. Page-17, Para 12

No dedicated company's own road to connect 900 metre Public Road for Transportation of ore Page-15

Baseline data forged one, manipulated during corona Period page 21, para 4

Public Hearing not done properly. Google Map wrt the distance of venue not as close proximity of the PP Area. (Page-11) page-36

Bicholim river is completely silted due to illegal mining. No action Plan in EIA to protect it.(Page-17)

Adv. B. Ranjan Paramguru

Ramesh Gauns

Call for comprehensive defence of Goa's rivers

Bharat Mukti Morcha (BMM) calls for comprehensive defence of all the Rivers of Goa, including Tributaries and Catchment areas, as their health is well being of fishermen. BMM notes trends threatening Goa’s rivers and fishing. Declaration of Goa’s six rivers as National Inland Waterways and Sagarmala project are the two major dangers confronting Goa. Both have their origin with Indian government’s Ministry of Shipping headed by Nitin Gadkari. BMM notes that what harm Indian government is intending to do to Goa is already been done by European colonisers in New Zealand towards the natives - the Maoris.

BMM calls upon Fisheries Minister Mr. Palyenkar and Ports Minister Jayesh Salgaonkar to get their mind on the March 2017 law in defence of river Whanaganui passed in the Parliament of New Zealand before major catastrophe unleashes on Goa. After battling for 140 years in March 2017 law known as Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act 2017 was passed in which acknowledgment of damage to river and people included. Crown apology has been extended to erecting of Jetties, Clearing of River for Navigation purposes, Control and sale of river gravel and shingle, Acquisition of land on river bank and use of river as “highway”. The National Inland waterways status for Goa’s six rivers and Sagarmala project is a death warrant to fishermen and ecology of Goa through dredging and new Jetty constructions.

Further Goa Government and Central Government with Corporate nexus have colluded to shift Goa’s jurisdiction at National Green Tribunal (NGT) bench from Pune to Delhi. All these three combined coupled with State’s attempts to acquire land for Corporate benefits makes Goa a colony marked for massive intolerable abuse of people and ecology.

Nearly 200 years ago on 01^st January 1818 five hundred Indian Mahars soldiers in British Army pulled down rule of Peshwayee in Pune. BMM infers that this memory is the reason India and Goa Government has shifted NGT jurisdiction to Delhi lest it becomes inspiration for Goans to revolt. All this because anti-environment projects are getting stalled? This is cheating. This action will be continuously opposed by fishermen and others like Maoris did in New Zealand. 

Groups across Goa condemn MoEF move on NGT

21^st August 2017

This is to strongly condemn the Ministry of Environment and Forest and government of Goa for attempting to deny Goans access to justice by transforming NGT jurisdiction over Goa from Pune to Delhi. By a recent MOEF notification dated 10^th August, Goa has been singled out as the only State in the country whose residents need to go far away to Delhi for Environmental justice, while the residents of other parts of the country are provided access at t he closest place possible.

We represent over 37 organizations from across Goa that came together yesterday to deliberate upon the shocking act of MOEF and to decide a course of action to obtain speedy relief to all Goans. We find that the present Government is progressively taking away all the rights of Goa as a State and that we are  increasingly being treated as a colony of Delhi. Though our Prime Minister spoke about “co-operative federalism” in his Independence Day speech a few days ago, this discriminatory action of MOEF shows the reality to be quite the opposite -  that Goa is treated as a foreign colony by our Government.

Goa is facing unprecedented and unparalleled destruction of Environment and displacement of local communities. As a result, Goa has the dubious distinction of having the largest number of cases before the NGT as compared with other states. Common Goans are forced to go to NGT  to defend their villages and future generations, flooding NGT Pune with matters from Goa. As demonstrated by NGT orders in various matters such as illegal dredging by MPT, the State and Union Government are hand-in-gloves with the private interests destroying Goa and her environment for short term greed. NGT, Pune is now become the last resort of Goans in their struggles to defend their lands and communities. However, the MOEF and Goa Governments have shown malafide intention to deny access to the NGT, since ordinary Goans cannot afford the cost or the time needed to approach NGT, Delhi.

The Hon’ble High Court of Bombay at Goa has taken sou moto cognisance of the MOEF Notification this morning and stayed its operation till 5^th September 2017, and we thank the Hon’ble Court profusely for this interim relief. However, the threat to the people from the Government’s malafide intentions must see reason and not only restore the jurisdiction of Pune bench of the NGT over Goan matters, but also correct their attitude towards the people, the environment and the future generations, failing which the people will be forced to remain in a state of war against the destructive forces unleashed upon us.

West is North! India loose sense of direction!

"It shall be the fundamental duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the Natural Environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for all living creatures."
           - The Constitution of India Article 51-A(g)

 Fulfillment of Fundamental Duty

In order to pursue the fulfillment of ones fundamental duty to protect natural environment People of Goa Petitioned National Green Tribunal in Pune. Several disastrous corporate projects were halted at NGT: Tiracol, Siolim Jetty on Chapora River, MPT deadly dredging of Arabian Sea and several more instances.

Corporate chocked up. Money fueled into the coffers of BJP and other Parties were finding unjustifiable in the face of repeated whips from NGT Pune.

Finally bell rang on on the feast of St. Lawrence, Goa roasted on slow burning fire! Goa jurisdiction moved from Pune to Delhi on August 10, 2017 and notified the next day August 11, 2017.

Rise of anti-colonial movement

With a flicker of this decision Goa environment movement stands transformed into anti-colonial movement. Now Goa is a Colony of Delhi - the Capital of India. And Government of India transformed itself from Nationalist to Anti-nationalist government. Protection of natural environment that includes Forests, rivers, lakes, wildlife is a constitutional duty of every citizen. Suddenly this has been challenged with shift in NGT jurisdiction. Indian government instead of making it easier for Public to exercise their constitutional duty has imposed hurdles of geography around their neck. We don't know the exact reason but know the consequences: Chocking Goa to undignified death.

Indian State and the State in Goa has turned tyrannous and democracy is fast evaporating into skies. Ground stands barricaded.

Northern lust

Central government has already taken our rivers and put them under jurisdiction of Inland Waterways Authority of India that is again located in North India at Gurgaon. Noose around Goa People already tightened up due to invasive Aadhaar Card even though most have not even realized. 

Central Government is suffering from crisis of direction. It is unable to distinguish between North and West. So the writing on the wall is clear. One who does not have sense of direction is bound to bang his head on the wall! Central Government status today is somewhat like this. We wonder from where Indian government got this idea to treat Goa as private estate brought as dowry by 16th wife of fancy King?

Goa Invasion

This decision, if not revoked can have very disastrous consequences. In 1961 India invaded Goa and sustained with the Veto from USSR. Pri. Chico Montiero and Kid Boxer raised their voices (and paid price with their liberty) and were arrested tried and sentenced to prison. Pri. Monteiro to Chandigarh jail and Kid Boxer to Nasik Jail. They were then termed anti-nationals and their legacy suppressed. Now if Indian government continues this trend then both of them may well gain in stature as the Freedom Fighters against Indian Imperialism in Goa. In fact Voices are increasing in Goa that 1961 was not a liberation of Goa but an invasion by India. Latest voice is of Jerry Cal's song sung by Olga in Album "Ugdas M Boyeracho". The arrogant behavior of India towards Goa will only be an appetizer to the rise of Kid Boxer and Pri. Chico Mendes from their graves. Kid Boxer's famous verse against Indian Invasion is still cited by those who witnessed his arrest in Mapusa during Tiatr : "tum bhitor sorlai chukon, mottoloi sukonn; durreacho desh pochonam!"

Strange but true: Goa is under Indian invasion. and India is under bamani invasion. Therefore Goa is under Bamani invasion too. Even though we admit it privately and speak of it in whispers, its reality that challenges Goa today : Layers of invasions on our Geography and our Psyche. urgent combat needed.

MoEF corrupt

Manohar Parrikar publicly declared few years ago that corruption in Ministry of Environment and Forest is rampant and their officials are known to collect money bags from mining companies in exchange for granting of Environmental Clearances. It is likely that huge money bags has crossed into MoEF officials and proved Manohar Parrikar correct. Here is link to Manohar Parrikar's confident assertion on corruption in MoEF. 

CBI probe on the process followed in this West to North India episode of Goa will be helpful.In the meanwhile Goa Bench of Bombay High Court has stayed MoEF descision till September 05, 2017 when the matter will come up for the hearing.