Team Herald
BICHOLIM: Upset over the iron ore transportation on the public road at night, which they claimed has caused inconvenience and disturbed their sleep, the residents of Pilgao and Sarmanas have accused the government of allowing the illegal activity from 11.30 pm to 5.30 am, not as per the Environment Clearance (EC) order.
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Kamlakant Valvaikar, a farmer from Sarmanas said, “The government has allowed transportation of ore from Bicholim mine to Sarmanas jetty from the main road during night and it was disturbing our sleep. From Friday, the movement of tipper trucks was allowed with police protection. We tried to stop them, but the police threatened to arrest us. This is now causing a lot of noise and dust pollution in the village.”
Claiming that the Supreme Court had already ruled that the right to sleep is a fundamental right, Valvaikar said that the movement of mining trucks was disturbing the peace of all residents, more particularly students, office-goers and daily wage workers. Given the poor financial conditions, even husband and wife are working to support the family and their sleep too gets disturbed. This has led to increasing stress levels among residents.
According to Valvaikar, there are 32 houses near Sarmanas jetty, but the company says there are only nine houses. But all these houses are in close proximity to mining operations.
Another farmer Sudhakar Vaingankar said that the government has allowed transportation of trucks at night by taking advantage of High Court vacation. “We will again approach the High Court when it reopens on January 2,” he said.
The villagers have demanded that the government stop ore transportation at night and should explore alternate routes for transportation of mining trucks away from residential areas.
The villagers and farmers have decided to submit their memorandum to the Mayem MLA Premendra Shet, Bicholim Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional officer (SDO), Directorate of Mines and Geology and the Bicholim police.
On the other hand, Truck Owners’ Association of Sesa Mining secretary Subhash Kinalkar said that they are transporting ore as per the norms laid by the government. He said that 42 trucks each are working in three shifts and each truck is getting only two trips making it difficult even to pay their drivers.
“If the government increases day timings then we will stop night transportation,” Kinalkar said.
Pilgao sarpanch ousted: Pilgao sarpanch Mohini Jalmi who had solidly rallied behind the villagers and farmers was ousted from office by a no-confidence motion on Friday.
Mohini was voted out of office by 4-0 votes even as the sarpanch was out of station on a pilgrimage. The other two panchas supporting the sarpanch abstained.
Reacting to her ouster, Mohini said, “I have no regrets. I will continue to support my villagers and farmers. The mining company is only giving empty promises and has failed to give compensation to affected farmers and to redeploy the retrenched workers.” Mohini said that one of the panchayat members who was hobnobbing with the mining company finally showed his colours and switched sides. She said since she was out of station, she could not attend the special meeting to refute the allegations.
Reacting to her ouster, the villagers and farmers remarked that the honest and upright sarpanch had to pay the price, as some panchayat members fell prey to the mining company.
