What went wrong in Goa and are there any lessons to be learned for Maharashtra? Has the illegal mining in Goa completely ruined the state’s water resources and will it happen to us too? Goa-based activist and President Award winner teacher Ramesh Gauns explains the real picture to DNA.
“For you (media) Goa till now meant only drugs, paedophiles, rave parties, tourism and IIFFA. We had been complaining of the looming disaster for many years, but no one bothered. Thanks to the uncontrolled mining in Goa, we are going to face tremendous water shortage as our rivers are getting filled with silt and the groundwater level is dropping rapidly,” Gauns said.
Important rivers such as Mandavi, Zuari, Kushawati and Khandepar are all affected by the mining. “Mandavi plateau has around 300 mines. These mines create 1,83,000 tonnes of silt which gets accumulated on the river bed during rains. In case of Zuari, there are 10 such mines, creating 3,333 tonnes of silt,” he said.
The condition of the Kalane river in Sindhudurga is no different.
“The Environment Impact Assessment report did not even show this river as perennial. On the contrary, the river flows even during summer. Silt from the mine goes directly to the river bed, increasing turbidity and even stops the flow of the water at some places,” said Parag Gaonkar, a local journalist.
“Around 60% of the mining in the state has reached up to the level below the groundwater. Fifty wells were dried up in Shirgaon, while 80 in Pisurle. These villages are dependent on tanker water. Goa has 11 rivers and 42 subsidiaries, but still we are depending on tanker water. Providing water to the 14 lakh residents of Goa and 25 lakh tourists is becoming extremely difficult,” said Gauns.
