QUEPEM LOCALS OPPOSE NEW MINING LEASE

Upping their ante against proposed new mining leases in the villages, people of Morpirla, Barcem, Fatorpa and Balli villages in Quepem taluka, at a public protest meeting held at the residence of the Quepem MLA Chandrakant 'Babu' Kavlekar , resolved to thwart any attempts by the government to allow the village lands to be used for mining purposes. Significantly, Kavlekar, who led the villagers from the front in voicing their protest, vowed to oppose tooth and nail any plans to grant mining leases in the villages of Quepem and assured to raise the issue in the forthcoming session of the state legislative assembly. Speakers expressed their disappointment over the absence of the chief minister Digambar Kamat at the meeting. It may be recalled that the villagers had demanded Kamat's presence at the meeting to seek a public clarification from him over the issue with Kavlekar claiming that Kamat was indeed invited for the meeting. Addressing the villagers, Kavlekar exhorted the villagers to stay united and not to fall prey to the machinations of the mining lobby to usurp village lands. "It appears that the government is going back on its assurance that no new mining leases will be granted until the mining policy of the state is finalized. If mining activities are allowed in our villages, it will spell doom for the village economy as it will destroy all paddy fields and water resources, and gradually consume our entire villages," the chairman of the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) cautioned. Former sarpanch of Barcem Khushali Velip, Betul sarpanch Veluna D'Silva also spoke. A committed headed by a villager Shanu Velip was constituted with a view to chalking out the further course of action