Team Herald
BICHOLIM: Despite protest by farmers demanding settlement of their demands regarding compensation and redeployment of retrenched workers, for nearly a month, iron ore transportation resumed at Pilgao on Friday under police protection.
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The farmers stated that the company was yet to settle their demands.
As many as 20 trucks transported ore from the Bicholim Block-1 to the Sarmanas jetty via the main road (new plant gate) from 4.10 pm to 5.30 pm.
Sudhakar Vaingankar, a farmer from Pilgao alleged that the Vedanta Sesa Goa company transported e-auctioned ore with police protection without settling their demands of compensation and redeployment of retrenched workers.
“We had met the Director of Mines and Geology on Thursday and he had told us that no permission has been given to the company to transport ore from the public road. Mining company has violated Environment Clearance (EC) conditions and also defied High Court directives as they have used the main public road. The government is backing miners and not the villagers. We will challenge it in the Court,” said Vaingankar.
Vaingankar warned that the State government, mining company and the truckers will be held responsible in case of any tragedy.
Reiterating her support to the farmers, Pilgao Sarpanch Mohini Jalmi said, “This is zabardasti (high-handedness). Allowing mining company to use the public road shows that the government has no concern for the people and the company also wants to make money. I will continue to rally behind the farmers whose fields have been destroyed due to mining activity.”
A few hours before transportation started, O Heraldo spoke to Director of Mines and Geology Narayan Gad. “We are considering different options to start transportation of iron ore. For the last 23 days transportation has been stopped, but a solution has to be there. Alternate route was also recommended in order to alleviate the hardships of the people.”
A statement from Vedanta Sesa Goa company said, “We carry out all operations in accordance with law and remain committed to adhere to all compliances and statutory requirements as laid down by the concerned authorities.”
Earlier in the morning, a delegation of company workers and the truck owners association of Sesa Mining met Bicholim Deputy Collector Rohan Kaskar and urged him to address concerns over disruptions to iron ore transportation and its impact on livelihood. In the memorandum, the Vedanta workers stated. “We are deeply concerned about the growing opposition to the transportation of iron ore on public roads. While we respect the concerns of those opposing, we request your intervention to ensure that transportation activities permitted by the government are not forcibly blocked. Such actions not only disrupt operations but also jeopardise the livelihoods of hundreds of workers and their families.”
Echoing the same sentiments, one of the truck operators Satish Gaonkar said, “We have once again borrowed loans and made our trucks ready for transportation in the hope of getting our livelihood through mining activities in spite of deep financial crisis caused by loss of business from 2012 onwards. The resumption of mining has rekindled economic activity and provided us with the means to lead a dignified life.”
They urged the district administration to facilitate a constructive dialogue between all stakeholders and seek a resolution that respects legal permissions and ensures equitable solutions for all parties.
