CITIZENS OF RIVONA BLOCKED OVER 1500 MINING TRUCKS

MARGAO: Residents of Rivona, under the banner of the Rivona Citizen Welfare Forum, (RCWF), blocked over 1,500 mining trucks making more than 3,000 trips daily from 11 operating mines on Wednesday.  In continuation of their protest against the killing of a 26-year-old from Sulcorna, Francis Jevaji, by a mining truck in the wee hours of Tuesday, the protesting residents, which primarily involved mothers, said that they are sick with the government authorities and the mining companies.

They claimed that Jevaji was the only breadwinner of his family comprising of aged parents and two spinster sisters. He was to leave for Muscat shortly to earn some extra bucks to support his family. The family of the deceased and residents of surrounding areas are also questioning the rational of providing compensation to the family of the deceased.

The protesters said that they couldn’t take it any more. Representing RCWF, Ms Olinda Lopes said that repeated pleas by the residents to the government, mining companies, the RTO, the environment protection agency in Saligao and even Mr Parrikar’s People Account Committee (PAC) continues to fall on deaf ears.

There are more than 2200 houses in the areas, five high schools and 14 primary schools. Ms Maria Concesciao said "It takes nearly 20 minutes and more to cross the road with kids and while waiting to cross we eat iron ore dust from the continuous mining traffic, which drivers refused to stop even for our children."

Every year besides countless accidents, five to 10 deaths take place on the roads. "When we leave our home for the daily chores, we are not sure whether we will return or not," said Ms Fatima Correira, a mother of four, pointing out to the mark where arrogant driver knocked Jevaji, taking his scooter under the truck adding that it is a bus stop.

The drivers mainly from outside the state are arrogant and drive in drunken state without any regards for pedestrians, said Ms Lopes. Over 100s of bars have come up along the roads, also in nooks and cranny.

"On January 29, the residents headed by Rev Fr Octavio D’Cunha personally met the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat and handed a memorandum. Since then there was no response, this is a clear sign that the CM, along with the mining companies, the police and the government authorities are working hand in glove," it was claimed.

All the fresh water springs have been blocked, which include the popular Bududeachem Tollem. An illegal mining company is even dumping its mining waste into the fresh water Kushawati River, the river is the life line of Rivona, Zambulim to Chandor. The Rivona Citizen Forum is not alone. A massive support from all over Goa, including NGOs will be backing them for their rights to live in peace.