It’s not the kind of agitation one sees every day. It was refreshing because the residents of Quepem, Curchorem and Sanguem, who travelled to Panaji were not opposed to any project. Instead they demanded a bypass road for mining trucks because it would make them feel safer. The agitation for a bypass was launched after two women died under a speeding iron ore laden truck at the Tilamol junction in Quepem taluka. What followed was a series of measures by the mines department. Presently, trucks are released from the mines in batches of four and the maximum speed is around 40 km per hour. But residents rightly feel that a bypass road would be a more permanent solution to congestion.
At the peak of mining, two corridors were suggested. One to link the Codli mines to Capxem, which a mining company was willing to finance and the second on the south-side linking Uguem to Guddemol and Capxem, where the barge loading jetties are located. Mining companies had agreed to finance construction of the second bypass as well. This situation changed after 2012 when mining was brought to a grinding halt. And though it has restarted (over seven million tonnes of iron ore were exported last year) the profit margins have thinned and it looks like the government will have to cough up the money to build these bypass roads, which should not be a problem because it has earned over Rs 900 crore through sale of e-auctioned ore and stands to earn more in this financial year. Besides, it has spent over Rs 128 crore on welfare of those affected by the stoppage of mining since 2012. So there isn’t a dearth of cash. And with people demanding such a bypass instead of opposing it, the time is ripe for the government to step in and complete these roads.
In the last financial year, mining companies exported just one-third of the total cap of 20 million tonnes placed by the Supreme Court. There is hope that this financial year will be better since the central and state governments have reduced taxes to make exports more profitable. These benefits kick-started mining, but much depends on international price of iron ore. It is ironic that India halted mining when international prices were at their peak and is seeking to re-enter the world market when prices are at a low. But this picture is expected to improve and when it does Goa has to be ready to take up the challenge of exporting more iron ore.
But for that to happen, infrastructure has to be created. In simple words, the bypass roads have to be constructed to facilitate quicker movement of ore to the jetties sans congestion and accidents. The bypass roads have been hanging fire for nearly a decade. Governments have come and gone but the roads never saw the light of day. The residents of Quepem, Curchorem and Sanguem benefit from mining and are also affected by it. They need a solution and one cannot grudge them for attempting to force the government into giving into their demand. Their fear of accidents is real and the rest of Goa needs to support them in their endeavor to build a better tomorrow for themselves. The accidents have to stop and for that to happen the bypass roads have to be constructed on a war footing.
