Mining companies in Goa to pay compensation for crop loss

Mining companies in Goa to pay compensation for crop loss

Preetu Nair
preetu.nair@gmail.com

PANJIM: The mining companies will deposit compensation of Rs 3.6 crore
plus in the Bombay High Court, Panjim bench on or before August 30, 2007. This compensation
is for the 761 aggrieved farmers in Surla village,North Goa, whose fields have
been destroyed due to mining activity.

The High Court has appointed Deputy Collector/Sub Divisional Magistrate, Bicholim as Court
Commissioner for the purpose of disbursement of the amount deposited
in the Court. If there are farmers whose name do not find mention in
the list, then they would have to approach the Zonal Agricultural
Officer with an application raising a claim.

While M/S VM Salgaonkar & Brothers Pvt Ltd will have to pay a
compensation of Rs 85,56,930, M/S Chowgule & Co Pvt Ltd will pay a
compensation Rs 85,53,263, M/S Salgaoncar Mining Industries will pay a
compensation of Rs 85,53,263, M/S VS Dempo & Co Pvt Ltd will pay a
compensation of Rs 85,53,263, M/S DB Bandodkar & Co Pvt Ltd will pay a
compensation of Rs 36,66,208 and M/S Timblo Pvt Ltd will pay a
compensation of Rs 36,66,208.

Once the amount is deposited in the High Court by the mining
companies, the amounts paid to the occupants or owners between 1997
and 2007, would be deductible and adjustable on providing documentary
proof of payment. It was agreed by both parties that by paying the
compensation, the obligation of the mining companies as regards the
desilting of silts in fields would be discharged.

The villagers of Surla had suffered immense loss in agricultural yield
from the year 1993 due to silting of the fields from the adjoining
mining units and had filed a writ petition in the year 2004. A report
on evaluation of crop loss suffered by farmers from 1993-2004 and
assessment of cost of removal of silt and damage to agricultural
property in terms of fertility and water retaining facility in Surla
village had suggested that the farmers be paid compensation from
1993-2004 for loss of yield. This committee was constituted on April
5, 2005. The Court, while hearing the matter said that the
compensation should be paid from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 2006
to 761 occupants.

The committee report states that there are active mines on North, east
and South sides all along the hills in the village. Due to silting,
approximately 1090 Ha consisting of 124 Ha under paddy (both Kharif
and Rabi), 603 Ha under garden crops and 363 Ha under dry crops. While
there are fields that have incurred total loss of kharif and rabi
crops, the main yield of cashew crop has also fallen by 50 percent,
the report states.

Division bench of Justice RS Mohite and Justice NA Britto hearing the
matter has further directed all mining companies operating in Surla
village to carry out and undertake adequate protective measures such
as provisions catchment drains, providing protective walls for silt
arrestation/check dams in between as also a forestation of the dumps.
Chief Engineer, Water Resources, shall ensure that all mining
companies carry out the directions for protective measures. This will
be reviewed after a year and then a decision would be taken regarding
further compensation.

(An earlier version of the article appeared in GT Weekender, Panjim, dated 29 July,2007)


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