PANJIM/CURCHOREM: In what could trigger another protest from the villages of Cavrem, the State government on Tuesday categorically stated that transportation of e-auctioned ore from mining lease sites would continue, with stern action against those obstructing the movement of minerals. The villagers have decided to intensify their agitation and not allow any transportation.
During the second round of the meeting called by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar with Cavrem villagers and officials of the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG), it was concluded that the allegations and illegalities pointed out by the locals were baseless and without authenticity. DMG provided detailed information on how it is continuously monitoring transportation of ore.
Speaking to media persons soon after the meeting, Parsekar said transportation of e-auctioned ore will continue with the government ready to initiate stern action under the law against those trying to obstruct it. “We will not tolerate any obstruction. Ore transportation will continue. We are doing it as per the Supreme Court as well as High Court order,” he said.
“I never said transportation of ore will be stopped. I had categorically informed the agitators that I will look into all their allegations and then if required I will stop it. But we cannot find any illegality,” Chief Minister said responding to a question about his assurance to villagers on Monday that ore transportation from the village will be stopped.
Cavrem villagers, represented by activist Ravindra Velip and Nilesh Gaonkar, expressed their displeasure and shock over the government’s decision. The activists said they are not going to backtrack but will intensify their agitation and ensure that transportation is not allowed.
“We are shocked with the Chief Minister’s U-turn. Yesterday he sounded very positive but today he is not even ready to listen. There is political pressure,” Velip told the media after the meeting.
“It is time that people from the mining belt commence a co-operative movement. We will do in our village soon. We want mining to be run through cooperative societies,” he added. He is also contemplating the possibility of again approaching the Court on the issue.
“The final decision would be taken after consulting the villagers,” Velip said alleging that the government and the mining company are of the view that his ‘movement is political and I extort money’.
The meeting was attended by DMG director Prasanna Acharya and assistant director Parag Nagarcekar.
The loopholes include that DMG has auctioned the ore on the basis of grade and quantity stacked as was supplied by the mining lease holders. In most cases, the e-auctioned ore has been bid for by the same mine owners. It also included non presence of a weigh-bridge at the loading and unloading points.
DMG refuted all charges stating that proper weigh-bridges are available at the loading point and transportation is conducted under complete supervision, wherein GPS have been fitted to trucks transporting ore and so also transit pass issued to the vehicles.
Meanwhile Cavrem residents returned to block the road and stopped the ore-transportation on Tuesday.
Quepem Deputy Collector Shankar Gaonkar, UTTA President Prakash Velip were present at the site with Quepem Police Inspector Pravin Gawas along with his force trying to diffuse the situation.
Asking the villagers to maintain peace and not take law in their hands, Gaonkar assured them that he will stop the transportation till 4 pm. His requests to allow around 15 ore laden trucks to pass, fell on deaf ears with the villagers adamant in their resolve to stop the transportation of ore.
Speaking to media, local women said they will not allow the transportation till the inquiry of arrests and assaults on villagers is conducted by the concerned authorities.
Expressing his personal opinion Prakash Velip said that transporter should have waited till 4 pm. “I have requested the people to allow the 15 ore laden trucks but they are not listening, they are demanding to send it back. In democracy there should be some amicable solution,” said Velip.
Panch member Ravindra Velip told the media that they had brought to the notice of the chief minister during the Monday meeting that the ore is being illegally transported in the name of e-auctioned ore from the Cavrem mine. “We had shown him the evidence as how the ore has been robbed by taking advantage of the flaws/loopholes. CM has accepted that there is truth in what we are saying and further investigation is needed,” informed Velip.
“And accordingly the meeting was adjourned till 4 pm on Tuesday and since that there is truth in what we are saying, chief minister had said that the transport will be stopped from Tuesday but the trucks began operating in the morning itself,” he added.
Later local resident Samir Gaonkar informed that the ore laden trucks which were stopped and later sent back by the villagers were allowed by the deputy collector to proceed via the Maina-Colamb-Rivona route.
When contacted, the deputy collector informed that it was the company’s decision to divert the trucks via the other route. He said he could not stop them as the trucks were not going through the Cavrem village.
Meanwhile in a separate press conference, the villagers from Maina decided to support the transportation saying that people from Cavrem are misleading that injustice has been done to them.
Santanu Phaldessai, a Maina local, said that three years back the people who were opposing the mining are now travelling in AC cars and having shops. “We want to know from where the money is come,” Phaldessai questioned.
Maina Panchas Rajendra Phaldessai, Dinanath Phaldessai, Subhash Devidas and Premanand Mainekar were present for the briefing.
The government has so far auctioned 86 lakh tonnes of ore, of which 70 lakh tonnes have been moved from the site while 46 lakh tonnes have been exported. The total royalty generated is around Rs 860 crore.
