Mine in Goa forest defies law; SC orders probe

Bahar Dutt / CNN-IBN

Collem Mines (South Goa): A multicrore mining industry is operating out of Goa's forest land, inspite of several notices from the Government to stop all operations.

A showcause notice (in CNN-IBN's possession) from the Forest Department Goa to the Prafulla Hede Mines in South Goa dated March 2008 reads: "You are informed to showcause as to why action should not be taken to close all mining activities for violating the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act".

Three months later, on May 8, 2008 CNN-IBN's Special Investigation Team (SIT) found that rows and rows of trees, 1000 square meters of prime forest has been burnt to ashes and that trucks are operating inside the Hede Mines despite the showcause notice.

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GBA campaigns for a revival of agriculture

photocredit: Reboni Click on photo to enlarge

Proposed township in Carmona, Salcete

Location and Heritage

The village of Carmona is located on the southern coast of Goa that stretches from Colva to Mobor, and is hemmed in by the villages of Varca and Orlim on one side and Cavelossim on the other. Carmona has about 1,200 homes spread over its settlement zone. AS much as 55 per cent of the land in Carmona is agricultural and the rest is horticultural/orchard/residential land. Its settled population is 5,000. Carmona has its own church, which celebrated its 400th year in 2007, a temple for Hindus and few chapels.

Carmona, reckoned to be a 700-year-old settlement, is ranked among the 20-odd Heritage Villages by the Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG). Unlike some others in this 'privileged club', Carmona does not boast of numerous unique, elite houses. It has a few old homes of the zonnkars which complement its old agricultural traditions, and have acquired the heritage status. But Carmona's strength is its neat landscaping, bunding, old water channels, thickly-wooded tracts ¬all manifestations of the heritage if one applies the term in its entirety.

A large number of families have been living for generations in Carmona, sustaining themselves on agricultural and allied activities. In the last decade or so, an appreciable number of youngsters have found employment in West Asia or well-paying placements with the international shipping companies. Carmona has remained relatively untouched by the tourism, even as it is located on the South Goan tourist belt, comprising Betalbatim-Colva-Benaulim-Cavelossim.

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Beauty & The Beast?

photocredit: Rajan Parrikar

A sign of the times. The crude 21st century!