Team Herald
PANJIM: The fight for land and livelihood is intensifying in Pilgao, as protesting farmers said on Friday that they would be forced to take to the streets if Vedanta is given permission to transport iron ore through the main village road, which would be a violation of the court order.
The farmers have blocked the roads for the last 20 days as the mining company has tried two different routes for tipper trucks to carry ore out of the area, but failed. Speaking to reporters at Koteswhar temple in Bicholim, Anil Salelkar, a local farmer, said, “Vedanta is planning to transport the ore through the main road which leads to the ferry. We want to bring to the notice of the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) that this will be dangerous for the people, especially for students in the schools that are close to the road. I request the DMG not to grant permission, but if it’s given, the villagers will be forced to take to the street and protest.”
Sudhakar Vaigankar, another farmer, said that they had been requesting the company for almost five months to call a meeting and resolve the issue. “We have opposed transportation of iron ore through two roads. Now we have learnt that the company is planning to use the main road. There are around 150 students using the road to go to a school close by. If the ore transportation starts, it will be difficult to live in the villages. Moreover, the agricultural fields are tenanted land and we have already given a representation to the collectorate that the trucks should be removed so that we can start farming," he said.
Nilesh Karbotkar, a local leader, said, “The Mines Department has fooled everyone by claiming that the road belongs to the government. In reality, the road used by the company is tenanted property.”
“A public hearing needs to be conducted for the road to be used. If people are not taken into confidence, someone will approach the court and mining will stop again,” he added
He added that the public road should be not allowed to be used by the company. “If permission is given, even I may approach the court and challenge it. That is why our demand to the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is that he should solve the problem of farmers and workers and restart mining systematically," he said.
Jayant Gaonkar, another farmer, asked what the point was to restart mining if it didn’t benefit locals. “We are ready to allow transportation if our demand is met – that the farmers whose land will be destroyed should be paid compensation and those who have been laid off should be given work. The company is bringing workers from outside while locals are sitting idle. Why should we allow this to happen? Mining should not be started at the cost of farmers,” he said.
Last week, the Pilgao farmers, who have been demanding compensation and re-employment, met Mayem MLA Premendra Shet and Bicholim MLA Chandrakant Shetye and requested them to settle their demands.