34 persons detained in tense Cavrem (ToI)

34 persons detained in tense Cavrem

TNN | May 9, 2014, 02.08 AM IST
MARGAO: Thirty-four people were detained at Cavrem under preventive arrest by Quepem police on Thursday after a large group of villagers tried to block roads to prevent the transportation of e-auctioned ore from a mine in the village.

Trouble began after a group of villagers assembled near the mine and threatened to prevent the transportation of the ore on grounds that the exercise was illegal. As there had been similar protests on Wednesday, on Thursday a large posse of policemen were deployed at the site. Deputy collector, Quepem, Ajit Panchwadkar, who arrived at the site, held discussions with leaders of the agitators in a bid to defuse the situation.

The agitators, led by village panchayat member Ravindra Velip and some anti-mining activists, pointed out to Panchwadkar that as there was no representative of any monitoring agency like the department of mines or the directorate of transport present at the site, transportation of the ore would be in violation of terms set out in the e-auction.

Panchwadkar dismissed these charges and explained to the protesters that the transportation was being carried out by mining trucks fitted with GPS system and thus their movements can be tracked by authorities concerned.

While the discussion was under way, a group of villagers tried to block the road to prevent the movement of trucks, following which Panchwadkar asked them to disperse. As the protesters failed to heed his repeated warnings, the Quepem police detained several villagers and cleared the road.

Speaking to TOI, Panchwadkar said the agitators had "no valid grounds" to protest at the site. "If they have any apprehensions of any illegalities, they are free to approach the authorities concerned with their complaints," said Panchwadkar.

Quepem PI Ram Asre said the police were compelled to arrest the persons owing to their aggressive behaviour which could have led to the situation veering out of control. "The arrested persons will be produced before the SDM," said Asre.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/34-persons-detained-in-tense-Cavrem/articleshow/34846619.cms

Memorandum to CM

May 9, 2014

 

PANJIM: Villagers have submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar requesting him “to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the land and to adhere to the spirit of the Supreme Court’s decision.” 

They also demanded that the rights of the poor and small truck owners who were denied sustenance by the present contract system be protected and ensure that all loading, weighing and transportation is carried out by villagers directly. 

The villagers have called for doing away with contractors or other middle man, and upholding the doctrine of equality and larger public good. The same memorandum was also submitted to the department of mines.

According to the villagers, when they went to the office of the lease holder located within the lease area they were told by the employees of Minescape Minerals that the government had auctioned the ore lying inside the lease boundaries to Sudar Industries Ltd by e-auction under Supreme Court orders.  

http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/Memorandum-to-CM/88457.html