FOREST OFFICIALS CONFISCATE AND SEAL A MINING EXCAVATOR AT PAIKUL

PAIKUL: Acting on a complaint filed by social activist Narayan Desai, Ponda division's forest officials and its mobile squad on Friday confiscated and sealed a mining excavator at Paikul in Satari.

Ponda divisional forest officer Subhash Henriques said, "We have taken the excavator into custody as it trespassed into government forest land. Since the gate to the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary was closed, the excavator scooped the path in a nullah nearby and bypassing the Bondla road entered Paikul forest."

"This is a violation under Section 20 of the Forest Conservation Act 1980 and necessary action will be taken," Henriques added.

Colem deputy range forest officer Dharajeet Naik arrested the driver and cleaner of the excavator and is investigating the case. Mobile squad RFO Lawrence Dias and other officials were present at the time of the arrest. Attempts have been on for a while now to start mining activities in Paikul which is part of the village panchayat of Guleli and which lies close to the sanctuary.

Vigilant villagers opposed to the starting of new or the renewal of old mining leases, on sighting the excavator carrying out work immediately alerted Narayan Desai. Brahma-Karmali-based lawyer Shivaji Desai said, "Paikul is known for agriculture and horticulture. If mining starts here, agriculture will suffer and villagers will face pollution."

Paikul-based environmental activist Dattaram Desai added, "How can we allow mining in our pristine village which is blessed by the perennial Ragado river and which has crystal clear water and clean air? I am born and raised in this village which is free from pollution."

He claimed the Portuguese-time mining lease at Paikul was cancelled by the state pollution control board and that the government has not given any permission to restart mining in Paikul.

Meanwhile villagers of Paikul and surrounding areas of Satari organized a meeting on Friday evening to oppose mining in the area.

Satari Khan Virodhi Jagruti Samiti's Ranjit Rane told the gathering, "We will not allow mining activities in Satari at any cost." He alleged that the Samiti's members were receiving threatening calls from people involved in illegal mining.