As mining resumes in eco-sensitive Goa amid protests, a village tries to implement the cooperative model SHREESHAN VENKATESH panaji
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.
Denne historien er fra September 1, 2017-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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Denne historien er fra September 1, 2017-utgaven av Down To Earth.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
