By Michael Fisher | NT
PANAJI: Polluted waters from mines in South Goa have started to decant onto the surface, nullahs, and rivers, with long-term devastating consequences for the environment and the health of the people, agriculture and animals of the surrounding areas. It is also believed to be polluting Salulim dam and Ponda Water Works.
When contacted Dr Simon N de Sousa, chairman Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) said, such findings need to be certified by authentic sources for action to be taken, "we are neither denying nor confirming such information," he told the Navhind Times.
Speaking on conditions of anonymity, geologist said the ore to waste ratio in most mines is 1:2.5 (means to gain one metric ton of ore, 2.5 mt is generated as waste), this waste is dumped forming a hillock and in a very haphazard manner. In several cases it is dumped outside the mining lease area, creating a lot of problems.
During the monsoon season, the dumps gets washed out and the muddy waters flow to low lying areas into nullahs, tributaries and rivers which turns the waters red in colour and pollutes it. It is also believed that the manganese ore content at the Salulim dam is rising. The same is with the Ponda Water Works, said geologist on condition of anonymity, they said.
The exploration of mines and minerals was carried out by geologist survey of India way back in the year 1968 and the mineral map of Goa depicts that the northern side of Goa is mainly consisting of iron ore and the southern consists of manganese ferro and manganese ore. Since then, the survey map remains unchanged.
And if one goes through the mining concession list of various mines in Goa granted by the Portuguese as mining concession, it shows that most of the concession in north Goa are of iron ore findings and in South Goa that of manganese ferro and manganese ore in nature.
In recent times, it is observed that most of the iron ore deposits in north Goa have been exploited with an average grade of 59 percent which after beneficiated and upgraded to 61 percent and 62 percent by the beneficiation plants own by mining companies.
The affected villages in the South: Korem, Rivona, Costi, Codli, Colomba, Dudal, Collem and others. In the north: Honda, Pissurlem, Pale, Surla, Cotambi,Vagus and others.
