Farmers, NGOs demand stop to mining in buffer zones

HERALD REPORTER

Farmers and non-governmental organisations on Monday have strongly demanded an immediate stop to all mining activities in the catchment areas and buffer zones.
At a public meeting-cum-exhibition held at the Lohia Maidan here this evening to commemorate World Water Day, NGOs demanded that the government immediately come out with a white paper on the water resources in the state and the impact of mining, tourism industries and urbanization on the resources.
While calling for the preparation of  a road map towards the restoration of water resources of the state, both surface and ground water resources, the NGOs demanded the immediate de-siltation and restoration of the natural water resources, including springs, rivers, lakes, ponds etc as part of a long-term strategy to conserve water resources.
Asserting that more than 50 per cent of mining is illegal in the state, social activist Ramesh Gauns has called for a total stop on mining activity in the catchment area of Selaulim water plant, raising apprehensions that indiscriminate mining would spell doom for the water resources.
“The Opa-Khandepar water reservoir is already badly affected by mining. Now, Selaulim is on the verge of heavy siltation”, Gauns said and called upon the government to serious take a look at the mining scenario.
He was addressing a meeting at the Lohia Maidan held to commemorate World Water Day on Monday evening.
Saying there cannot be any compromise on drinking water, Gauns said no life can exist on earth without water for drinking.
Gauns said that Selaulim caters to nearly 51 per cent of the population of Goa, adding that any siltation of the catchment areas of the Selaulim irrigation project would adversely affect the drinking water supply to Salcete and other areas of South Goa.
In his address, Fr Eremito Rebello said that water affects the very existence of human life and called upon Goans to come out and demand potable water free from contamination. “There cannot be any compromise on clean and pure drinking water. We all must rise and demand potable drinking water”, he added.
Sidharth Karapurkar said the meeting coincided with the commencement of the awareness drive launched today to conserve and protect the water resources. He said the drive will be taken to all the villages to bring out an awareness amongst the people.
President of Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvott Dilip Hegde said the public meeting was called to commemorate World Water Day and highlight the concerns of the people on the water front.
Besides GXE, NGOs including the Voice of Villagers, Verna, Colva Civic and Consume Forum and other organizations participated in the meeting.