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Storm brewing over Loliem mining plan

HERALD CORRESPONDENT
POINGUINIM, JAN 12 — Moves by the government to lease out 471.21 hectares of land at Loliem-Polem to a Gujarat-based party to extract ore has evoked public anger in and around Loliem, with resentment spreading to Karwar as well.Over 700 residents attended a special Gram Sabha meeting on Friday to register their stiff opposition to the project, with speakers cutting across political lines urging the government to drop the project.

Besides resolving to ask the government to scrap the project, the Loliem-Polem residents also decided to stage a protest rally from Polem to Makadeshem beach on Monday. The controversy stems from a survey by the department of mines in 1994, which revealed that the plateau — most of which belongs to the communidade of Loliem-Polem — is rich in aluminium and bauxite ore.

The Gujarat-based party is learnt to have submitted a proposal for extraction of ore in 1997. According to sources, the extracted ore would be transported to Karwar seaport for export. The Director of Mines reportedly sent letters to the departments concerned on December 18, 2006, seeking to acquire land at Madditolop, Dapot, Vaturem, Xendrem, Shelli, Tanshi and adjoining areas.

As this extracted ore is likely to be transported to Karwar port, residents of Karwar, who are aware of this proposed project, also plan to protest, for they fear that ore transporters would pollute and endanger the national highway.

The speakers narrated the harrowing experiences of the people living in the mining belt of Goa and cautioned the people of the disadvantages of the project.

Claiming that vast tracts of land in Canacona taluka has been sold to outsiders, former sarpanch Mohandas Loliencar stated that while landowners could sell their properties to anyone, it would be the people who would finally decide on the type of project to come up in their village.

Others who spoke at the meeting included Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar, ZP member Daya Pagi, Sarpanch Viswesh Acharya, former minister Isidore Fernandes, Loliem Parish priest Fr Roney Serrao, Poinguinim Congress Women’s Block President Pranali Bhat, Headmaster of Damodar Vidyalaya, former sarpanchas, panchs and other prominent citizens. A police force was stationed at the venue to prevent any untoward incident.

When contacted, Minister for Mines Digambar Kamat feigned ignorance and said he is “totally unaware” of this proposed project, but assured to look into the matter.

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Storm brewing over Loliem mining plan

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