Press Statement in support of Rama Kankonkar and Arturo D’Souza

The undersigned organisations and individuals strongly condemns attempts of the State Government in collusion with vested interests to tag Rama Kankonkar and Arturo D’Souza - well known for their activities in defence of ecology and environment – based on letter inward at Agassaim Police Station. This fact came to light when few days ago Rama Kankonkar was called at the Agassaim Police Station after serving call letter. It is fundamental duty of every citizen of India to protect environment under Article 51-A(g) of the Constitution of India. However over the past few years Rama Kankonkar as well as Arturo D’Souza has been harassed and subjected to private violence making mockery of the law and order situation in Goa while engaged in task of environment protection especially with regard inclusion of PDAs to urbanise, protection of Chimbel lake from proposed IT park and movement to protect Bondvol lake at Santa Cruz village and get it recognise as Wetland. 

Both Arturo and Rama are also outspoken about the illegal fishing in Zuari River by use of trawl nets and purse seine nets and offered their support to traditional fishing community using Gill nets. Currently Rama and Arturo are contributing immensely towards study of Coastal Management Plan (CZM) that is to come up for Public Hearing on July 07, 2019, and creating awareness in different parts of Goa specially Tiswadi. Rama Kankonkar is also courageous to expose CRZ violations carried on the banks of Cumbharjua River by brother of Goa’s Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte.

The undersigned organisations and individuals strongly condemn today afternoon’s act of violence on Rama Kankonkar’s private car parked at his residence in Curca suffering damage. This act of violence is carried on in order to instill fear and silence vibrant voice of Rama Kankonkar. This latest attack not only reflects growing frustration of the vested corporate interests out to destroy environment of Tiswadi Taluka but also collapse of the Law and Order machinery in the State of Goa. Goa’s Home Minister must resign immediately as he has failed to provide adequate security to Rama Kankonkar.

We pledge our support to Rama Kankonkar who is also the office bearer of GAKUVED and Arturo D’Souza till Justice is done, violence stops, Environment protected, ecology restored and urbanising trends reversed.

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