Water problem spiralling out of control in mining belt

Harvalem waterfall in Sattari taluka – a perennial waterfall, revered for its religious significance and natural beauty, has dried for the very first time in its 500-year-old history. 

It’s believed a dozen mining leases located about 5 km upstream in Sonshi village frequently diverted water for mining and later pumped it back into the rivulet. But all that changed with the halt in mining activities last month, following the Supreme Court order, which forced mine owners to abandon their leases and stop pumping water from the mining pits. 

Perhaps, this is just the tip of the iceberg and Harvalem waterfall may well not be an isolated case, as similar situation prevails in all the mining-rich talukas of the State. Be it Sattari, Bicholim, Sanguem, Curchorem or Dharbandora, several waterfalls and springs have gone dry, while the agricultural crops have been destroyed due to insufficient water supply. 

While mine owners have expressed their inability to pump out water from the mining pits to the fullest, government authorities too are falling short on supply on water in the affected areas. 

As the crisis worsens, the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) has swung in action, probably after being pulled up by Bombay High Court at Goa, which has asked District Collectors to identify the villages that are facing the acute water shortage, the supply for which will be done in the next seven days. 

The Water Resources Department (WRD) is initiating steps to provide water for irrigational purpose to the villagers. 

Supreme Court via a judgment dated February 7 quashed and set aside the second renewals granted to 88 iron ore mining leases, while directing them to stop the operations from March 16. Accordingly, Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) issued order to the concerned leaseholders to vacate the lease area and to stop all the operations from the said date. 

At the same time, DMG directed the leaseholders to continue pumping of water from mining leases for drinking, agriculture and horticulture purpose.  “The pumping of water from mining leases and safety measures in lease hold areas are not in any way connected with mining operations but are measures which are required as a part of social responsibility,” DMG director Prasanna Acharya said.

Acharya said the stopping of water being pumped may deprive villagers of regular supply of drinking water, which is required for basic human existence, which is fundamental right protected by Highest Court of Justice. “The districts Collectors are the authorised bodies to take necessary action against the leaseholders who fail to release water,” he said. 

The District Collectors have asked all the concerned village panchayats in the mining belts to provide details of the areas that are facing serve water crisis, so that the supply can be done at the earliest.  

“As a top priority, DMG has laid focus on adequate supply of potable water for the people in the mining belt. Villagers have complained of water pollution in areas like Sonshi, Amona, Dharbandora, Sanguem, where mining leases were operational. The villagers were supplied water in tankers, but that too was not consumable,” Jitendra Naik, member of DMG told Herald. 

“More so, with the closing of mining activities, the lease holders are also not pumping out water required for drinking and irrigation,” he added.

The Sonshi villagers had approached High Court complaining of water and air pollution in their villages due to rampant mining operations. Accordingly, the Court had directed government to provide potable water for the villagers. 

Meanwhile, with mining leaseholders have expressed their inability to pump in water for irrigational and drinking purpose to the fullest and now the WRD intends to take a lead to desilt the water from mining pits.

WRD Minister Vinod Palyekar has directed his department to undertake a detail survey along the mining belts identifying the potential mining pits for pumping out water for irrigational purpose in the long run. “We have sent our teams to inspect the situation. The Collector and I held a meeting with the mine owners and asked them to release the water. But I am getting complaints that the water bodies have dried up and farms do not have water for irrigation. I have told my office to look into the matter seriously and ensure that the water is supplied for irrigation,”