Dodamarg villagers want their forests to be notified as ecologically sensitive

Times of India | 5 days ago | 24-08-2022 | 02:40 am

Keri: Villagers from several parts of Dodamarg taluka in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district have started a movement for their region’s inclusion in the Union environment ministry’s notification for ecologically sensitive areas (ESA).Notifying parts of Dodamarg, which shares its border with Goa, as ESA will help protect Colval and Terekhol rivers that flow into the state.A significant area belonging to the Western Ghats region in the Dodamarg-Sawantwadi belt has been left out from the draft notification released recently by the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MOEF&CC). This is the second time that this portion of the wildlife corridor has been excluded from the notification. It was earlier left out in 2015.The village panchayats of Zolambe and Kolzar in Dodamarg and Tamboli Konshi-Dabhil and Asaniye in Sawantwadi have passed resolutions for their inclusion in the ESA list.On August 19, the Ghungurkathi Group from Adali organised an awareness drive and signature campaign at the weekly market at Dodamarg to garner support for their demand.“Dodamarg taluka is blessed with innumerable perennial streams and springs as well as a rich biodiversity. Looking at climate change and global warming, there is a need to include these forests in the ESA notification,” said Satish Lalit of the Ghungurkathi Group.The forests of Dodamarg are contiguous to Karnataka’s Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary. While Goa’s Mhadei wildlife sanctuary was included in the list of ESA villages by the 2010 Western Ghats Ecological Expert Committee headed by Madhav Gadgil, the high-level committee under Kasturirangan had excluded Dodamarg taluka.The high court of Bombay in 2013, based on a 2011 plea by Awaaz Foundation, had directed the Union environment ministry and the Maharashtra government to ensure that the Sawantwadi-Dodamarg wildlife corridor was protected as an ESA, prohibiting mining and the red category industries and requiring them to be phased out.“Already the Dodamarg-Sawantwadi belt faces the threat of 49 proposed mining leases. Despite the ban on tree felling, forested areas have been degrading, which is affecting streams and rivers. We want a sustainable model of development, one that protects and conserves forests and wildlife,” said Sanjay Sawant of the Vanashri Foundation.In 2018, the high court once again declared the Dodamarg-Sawantwadi belt a no tree-felling zone. In 2013, the Maharashtra government formed a committee to seek local opinion on the carving out of the eco-sensitive zones in the Dodamarg-Sawantwadi belt. However, the findings of the committee were not made public.“Including the forests of Dodamarg in the ESA notification is needed for the protection of perennial sources of water that empty into the two important rivers of Colval and Terekhol flowing into Goa. If these areas are not included in the notification, along with Sawantwadi and Dodamarg, Pernem, Bicholim and Bardez talukas in Goa will have to face the brunt of ecological imbalances,” said environmental activist from Goa, Ramesh Gauns.

Read more

Share:

Similar News

Mining exploration corp submits report on eight leases proposed for auctioning

Times of India | 18 hours ago | 29-08-2022 | 06:46 am

Times of India

18 hours ago | 29-08-2022 | 06:46 am

PANAJI: The Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL) has submitted its final report on eight mining leases in Bicholim and Sattari talukas that the government has decided to auction. Of the eight, five are at Bordem in Bicholim taluka and three in Sattari, including two leases in Pissurlem and one in Poriem. The state government has tentatively finalised the mining leases in Bicholim and Sattari for auctioning. “Based on the report, the government has to take a decision on whether to auction or not,” sources said. The state government has planned to auction at least one mining lease in August. The MECL report consists of a detailed study on iron ore reserves in these mines as well as the vegetation around the leases, among others. All eight leases were operational during the Portuguese period, the sources said, adding that some of the mine owners had applied for first renewal of their leases in 1987, but did not pursue their applications. The sources added that some mines had opened, but as they were not profitable, the mine owners did not carry out any excavation. In July 2021, MECL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Directorate of mines and geology (DMG), offering integrated mineral exploration and consultancy services. The state has given the task of assessing mineral resources to MECL to finalise the mineral blocks to be auctioned and to establish the state’s mineral inventory. During the Portuguese period, Goa had 806 mining concessions. In 1987, after concessions were abolished and converted into leases, this number reduced to 595. In 1987-88 and in 2000, 438 lease holders applied for first renewal. Subsequently, 413 lease holders had applied in 2006 for a second renewal. Out of the 595 valid mining leases in Goa, the state government cancelled 252 of those holders who had not applied during the first or second renewal in 1987 and 2007. In October 2013, 119 mining leases were cancelled and another 133 in November 2013.

Take up health, edu projects in mining belt, CM to DMFs

Times of India | 3 days ago | 26-08-2022 | 02:40 am

Times of India

3 days ago | 26-08-2022 | 02:40 am

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday directed the chairmen of both the District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) to take up projects in education, health, water and sanitation, among others, in the mining belt as around Rs 248 crore has been collected under the district mineral fund.Sawant, who is chairman of the state-level monitoring committee of the DMF, reviewed the 63 projects that have already been taken up by the DMF. Of the total funds collected only 50% of the funds can be utilised to take up projects.The chief minister directed the DMFs to complete the ongoing projects and take up new projects as funds were available.“We have given approvals to some projects at the meeting,” Sawant said. Of the 63 projects taken up, 41 are in North and 22 in South Goa. Some of these are projects have already been completed, some are in the ongoing stage and others are new sanctioned projects. The state government has clarified high-priority projects and priority projects. Under high-priority projects, the DMF can take up projects in sectors like education, health, drinking water, women and child welfare, sanitation and welfare of disabled, among others.Priority projects include environment preservation, pollution control, other physical infrastructure, irrigation, energy and watershed development.The DMFs were introduced in the Mine and Minerals Development Regulation (Amendment) Act in 2015 to create a district-level entity for welfare of mining affected persons to which contribution is directly made by the holders of mineral concessions.

Goa: Green body seeks info from MRF over expansion plans

Times of India | 1 week ago | 18-08-2022 | 04:40 pm

Times of India

1 week ago | 18-08-2022 | 04:40 pm

PANAJI: Following complaints from locals and Goa Foundation, the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (Goa-SEIAA) has sought several clarifications from MRF over the project of its plant's expansion at Usgao. The company had made an application before the Goa-SEIAA in October 2021 seeking environment clearance for the plant's expansion. Soon after, the Goa-SEIAA received a complaint from Dhatawada Usgao Citizens' Forum, their contentions supported by Goa Foundation. The Goa-SEIAA now, based on the issues raised by the complainants, has sought clarification on the total area of the plot which has been levelled so far for the construction of the new factory. "Copy of the written submission by the complainant will be supplied to the project proponent for information. The project proponent is required to submit clarification regarding the observation raised by the complainant for proposed levelling of land for construction of the factory," the Authority has said. The complainants claimed before the authority that mud from the site adjacent to the factory is being removed and dumped at an unauthorised place. The locals said they fear that the mud may run into the river. River Khandepar is a major source of drinking water. The Goa-SEIAA has sought to know the 'area of the plot that has already been levelled, the quantum of material extracted, details of each location of deposition of extracted material with survey numbers and areas'. Claude Alvares of Goa Foundation has told the Goa-SEIAA that there is ore in the extracted mud and that there is explicit provision of the Supreme Court for removal of any mining waste outside of mining area. The authority has asked MRF to clarify now whether there is iron ore present in the balance area which is yet to be levelled for the project and, if it is present, then what is the estimated quantity and mode of disposal. Earlier, the local panchayat had passed two resolutions in 2016 rejecting the expansion of the plant.

High court directs Goa govt to verify reports of sand mining

Times of India | 1 week ago | 18-08-2022 | 04:40 pm

Times of India

1 week ago | 18-08-2022 | 04:40 pm

PANAJI: The high court of Bombay at Goa has directed state authorities to look into statements by Goa River Sand Protectors Network of illegal sand mining taking place, and ascertain whether sand mining is indeed being carried out at the spots indicated by it. The network also submitted to the court a picture frontpaged by TOI on Wednesday showing large heaps of illegally mined sand ready for transportation on the banks of the Mandovi in Naroa, Bicholim. It also submitted pictures by other media related to sand mining. The network submitted to the court that although sand mining has stopped at many hotspots brought to the attention of authorities over the past months, it continues at two places despite round the clock police patrolling, with some new areas cropping up where sand mining activities have been ramped up over the past few weeks. These are in Curtorim and Chandor where there is 24x7 police presence at the site. In Curtorim, the network has stated that the loading point is at Corjuem on the banks of Zuari river. At Chandor, the sand extraction is being carried out in River Kushawati near the Cotta Railway Bridge. Besides this, sand mining activities are also ongoing at Bicholim, Chorao Island, Talarna in Pernem and Revora in Bardez, the network submitted. At Bicholim, sand extraction is occurring in River Mandovi near the navigation pole. At Revora, illegal sand extraction is being carried out near the railway bridge. The GPS coordinates of the places where illegal sand extraction is taking place were submitted to the court. The network represented by Norma Alvares with Om D'Costa submitted that the illegal sand extraction activities occurring in River Chapora at Revora are in close proximity to the home of a local person, putting his property and family at great risk from the river bank collapsing. Numerous complaints have been made by the individual to authorities dated May 19, 2022, June 14, 2022 and August 4, 2022. The network requested for round the clock patrolling at Bicholim (Ponda), Chorao, Talarna and Revora as patrolling has proven to be significantly effective in reducing illegal sand mining activities. It has also sought an inquiry into how sand loading/extraction has resumed at Curtorim and Chandor despite police deployment there and should ensure that prohibition on illegal sand mining is enforced.

HC raps mines dept again for non-action on plaints of large-scale quarrying at Mollem, Dharbandora

Times of India | 1 week ago | 18-08-2022 | 04:42 am

Times of India

1 week ago | 18-08-2022 | 04:42 am

Panaji: Slamming state authorities yet again, the high court of Bombay at Goa has directed the secretary (mines) to inquire about non-action on the part of officials of the directorate of mines and geology (DMG) on complaints filed regarding large-scale quarrying operations at Mollem and Dharbandora.The division bench comprising Justices Mahesh Sonak and R N Laddha directed the secretary to ascertain who the director of mines was at the relevant time, when the complaints were filed, and as to why no action was taken on the complaints.“Forwarding the complaints to junior officers and not even bothering to find out whether such officers have taken any steps to prevent the unauthorised mining or quarrying hardly amounts to any serious action,” the court held.It added that the director of mines cannot simply pass the buck to assistant geologists or junior officers in his department, when the complaints were addressed to the director, who was responsible for taking action.The court further stated that the action taken thus far, as stated in the two affidavits, “appears to be cosmetic”.“However, the higher officer cannot simply make the junior officers scapegoats in a bid to escape responsibility. This is why we deem it proper to direct the secretary (mines) to look into this matter with the utmost seriousness it deserves,” the high court stated.The showcause notice issued by the director estimates that a loss of approximately Rs 1.4 crore has been caused to the state revenue due to this illegal quarrying operation in this single pit, the court was told. It observed that no action was taken to determine the loss caused or identify perpetrators in other excavations in the same area mentioned in the inspection report.“Again we repeat that at least we find it extremely difficult that none of the officers were even aware of these large-scale unauthorised mining or quarrying activities in this area. Such activities go on in broad daylight and involve transportation with trucks, excavations with heavy earth machinery and severe dust and noise pollution. Moreover, the report says such activities must have continued over the last four to five years. So this is not some one-off instance,” the court stated.“Thus, at least prima facie, either the authorities acted in dereliction of their duties if they seriously claim they were unaware of such large-scale activities, or despite being aware, they chose not to act. In either scenario, inquiry and investigations are called for at substantially higher levels. The secretary (mines) must, therefore, earnestly and dispassionately enquire into this matter, if necessary, by holding a preliminary inquiry,” the court said.

More News

Latest News