CURCHOREM
The disclosure that Cavrem panch Ravindra Velip had accepted Rs 23 lakh from a mining company has brought shame to the entire village, claimed residents of Maina.
A visit to Maina village on Wednesday revealed that locals were clearly upset with Velip for misleading them on his agitations against the ongoing ore transportation activity.
Many felt that Velip had recently spearheaded the agitation, after giving them the impression that the agitation was to protect the environment. They were particularly unhappy with Velip's demand that ore transportation contract should be given to a cooperative society in Cavrem, especially when four mines are operational in Maina ward.
“The news that panch Ravindra Velip took money from a mine company has brought shame to the entire Caurem-Pirla village,” said Prakash Phaldessai, a senior citizen from Maina.
“The actual affected people are the residents of Maina, but they did not come on the streets and forcibly stop ore transportation, nor did we take money or any benefits from mine companies,” he added.
“It is unfair that some other person is taking benefit on behalf of the people of Maina, by presenting a wrong impression to government officials,” said Phaldessai.
Another local, Prasad Bhende, said many Maina locals own trucks which have been gathering dust in garages.
“It will be good if an opportunity is given to Maina locals to transport e-auctioned ore, so that the rightful beneficiaries are locals from Maina,” he added.
Earlier when asked why had the residents of Maina remained silent when a group of locals from Cavrem had been benefiting from their cost, another local, Shanta Phaldessai, replied: “We were unclear about the recent agitation, as Ravindra Velip and his supporters gave a wrong impression to people at large that ore transportation was illegal and that mines are located in Cavrem.”
“However, the ground reality is that four operational mines are in Maina (ward 5) and the current e-auctioned ore transportation is going on as per a court order and hence, it is not illegal,” Shanta added.
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'Maina, Cavrem villagers must work out solution'
THE GOAN NETWORK
CURCHOREM
With the two villages of Maina and Cavrem clearly divided following a revelation that Cavrem panch Ravindra Velip had accepted Rs 23 lakh from a mining company, Cavrem-Pirla sarpanch, Tolyo Gaonkar has appealed to both villages to work out a mutual solution.
“Both the villages should come to a mutually acceptable solution and there should not be any rift among the villagers over any issue. The locals from Cavrem and Maina must get the benefits from mining activity,” stated Gaonkar, while speaking to The Goan.
Meanwhile, the transportation of e-auctioned ore took place smoothly on Wednesday amid police protection.
Quepem PI Pravin Gauns Dessai said no untoward incident was reported during ore transportation. “About 90 police personnel were deployed along the route and about 450 trips (trucks) of ore were made on Wednesday, compared to Tuesday's 175 trips,” said PI Dessai.
