Villagers disunited! Mine's the culprit

Villagers disunited! Mine's the culprit

Preetu Nair
MUSHCAUREM/SULCORNA: GOA:

"I can't believe this is happening I can't believe all these people are sniffing each other & backing away teeth grinning hair raised, growling, here in the slaughtered wind…"

When James Douglas Morrison wrote these famous lines he would have hardly known that in the Pearl of the Orient, there are narrow winding roads which led to the quaint village of Mushcaurem and Sulcorna in Quepem taluka. Here mining has divided hearts and families. The villagers who once used to mingle together, with respect like milk and water, now dispute and repel from each other like water and oil.

Despite the Ganesh festive mood, the slaughtered wind has brought the death of all joy for the villagers by dividing them. Ganesh Chaturthi, once the festival of celebrating unity and togetherness is no more fun, as the disease of mutual distrust has spread in the village, thanks to the powerful mining lobby. Now for every story of courage and sacrifice in the village, there is another one of cowardice and greed. For every dream there is a nightmare and for every challenge there is a hurdle.

No one accepts it openly. But the differences are obvious. The villagers, who in the past used to celebrate the festival together by visiting each other's homes, today don't even acknowledge each other's presence. The divide is simple: on one side are those who support the mine owners and on the other side are those who don't.

"We are happy that we are working in the mines and have the support of the mine owners. We are compensated well for any crop damage and also get a decent salary for working in the mines. Besides, when there is water shortage for irrigation purpose, we inform the mine owners and they immediately do the needful," revealed Paik Gaonkar from Mushcaurem.

On the other hand, Anil Sawant, who's also from Mushcaurem alleges that unabated mining activity has polluted the drinking water and they suffer from various ailments. "The silt from the mines flow into our fields and due to this, the crop yield has also lessened in the last few years," he complained.

Differences of opinions and ideas have divided hearts in Mushcaurem and Sulcorna. In Sulcorna the situation is worse, as there are fights often within the family. A village, which was very united once, is divided now. Three powerful villagers who have more land holdings in the village have been gifted trucks by the mining lobby and this has virtually divided the villagers.

Situation worsened when a few days back, five boys who are fighting against the mining lobby were put behind bars for allegedly stealing Rs 2000 and snatching a gold chain worth Rs 15,000 from a supporter of the mining lobby.

Despite bitterness between the villagers, there is still hope in the heart of the youth that things will change and villagers will unite to fight for their rights. "I know one day all of us will get together and fight for our rights. It is just a matter of time," added Ramakant Dessai from Sulcorna.

preetu_nair@gomantaktimes.com

(Article appeared in Gomantak Times, Panjim, August 29,2006