Goa:Sanguem, Sattari lost 25,000 trees 7 years

It was known all along, but now it's official. Information obtained under the RTI Act shows the extent of deforestation in Sanguem and Sattari talukas to clear the way for mining operations. Permission was given to cut down 25,216 trees in the two talukas between August 2002 and August 2009.

While Sigao village of Sanguem lost 7,199 trees during the period to five mining companies, Chowgule and Co obtained permission to cut 6,731 trees for it's Xelpo Curdo iron ore mine in Sattari. This is worrying environmental activists as well as locals in those areas.

Alleges Colamb resident Rama Velip, "Mining companies are cutting a large number of trees by obtaining permission for a few. There is no monitoring agency." However, the forest department denies this. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a forest official said that immediately after tree felling permission is given, trees are numbered and the boundary is demarcated. "Before the timber is transported, another inspection is conducted to ascertain the number of trees actually cut. The rules are very strict," he said.

He added, "For the compensatory afforestation, one has to deposit the money with the department for availing the tree felling license. The deposited money is then used for afforestation." The explanation doesn’t pass muster with activists. Roland Martins of the Mapusa-based NGO GOACAN said, "Mining companies are destroying our natural forest cover and in the name of afforestation they have undertaken a monoculture plantation drive which is threatening the water table in North as well as South Goa." Forest surveyor Ramadasan K M says tree felling permissions were issued as per the approval of the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF). "Compensatory afforestation was stipulated in degraded forest land twice the area diverted for mining," he adds.

According to Ramadasan, the amount towards compensatory afforestation has been deposited by the user agencies and it has been transferred for the afforestation programme. Deforestation in this area was inevitable since more than 350 sq km of mining concessions and leases had been given over the years within forest areas of the Sahyadri range. Thanks to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, some checks were exercised on deforestation by forbidding the diversion of forest to non-forest uses unless prior permission from the MoEF is obtained.

However, Goa Foundation's Claude Alvares says more than 45 permissions have been issued by the ministry to clear areas in prime forests in violation of the National Forest Policy and "explicitly against the desire and will of the local communities who depend on these forests, particularly for their water supplies".

Recently, the ministry granted forest clearance even in the absence of land for compensatory afforestation, he says. Principal conservator of forest (additional) Shashi Kumar in a recently-held meeting of the Goa Pollution Control Board said, "The forest department is most vigilant in curtailing illegal tree felling. Officials have been directed to take action against illegalities if any are observed." Relying on remote sensing data, the Tata Energy Research Institute has indicated that some 2,528 hectares of vegetative cover disappeared under the impact of mining during 1988–1997. Sanguem taluka has the largest forested area in Goa with two wildlife sanctuaries and one national park.

However, the taluka is under threat as there are 295 mining leases in Sanguem, a good number of which lie within protected areas. The Goa government allowed mining to continue in these leases despite a Supreme Court order dated February 14, 2000 which prohibits even removal of grass from national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. It was only in November 7, 2003 that the Central Empowered Committee directed the Goa government to shut down mining activity in the sanctuary areas.