Goa Undermined

 

- Shreeshan Venkatesh

AN EERIE silence envelopes Sonshi village in North Goa district. This tiny tribal village is nestled in hills that are home to 13 iron ore mines, operated by mining giants such as Sesa Goa and VM Salgaocar. On August 13, the Goa bench of Bombay high court directed the state government to ensure that 12 of the 13 mines, whose licences were suspended by the state pollution control board four months ago, should be allowed to resume operation only after they comply with all pollution-control measures laid down by the Indian School of Mines. While this has brought relief to Sonshi’s 300-odd population, they say it would not be long before the mines return to their old ways. And their fear is not unfounded.

In 2012, the Supreme Court banned iron ore mining across Goa because of large -scale corruption and general mine mismanagement. A year earlier, a public accounts committee appointed by the state Assembly had found that nearly half the active iron ore mines in Goa were illegal. Though the court lifted the ban in 2014, it prescribed fresh clearances and approvals for all mines from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and state agencies, and capped the annual production for the state at 20 million tonnes (MT). But Sonshi residents allege that most companies operating around the village put aside the apex court orders while resuming operations in September 2016.