Rivona locals, forest dept clash over ore rejects

Margao: Tense moments were witnessed at Kevona in Sanguem taluka’s Rivona on Saturday after locals clashed with forest department personnel over the transportation of mining ore rejects from a dump lying inside forest property — with Sanguem MLA Subhash Phal Dessai wading into the dispute and openly siding with the villagers.

The confrontation was triggered after forest officials attempted to stop villagers from carting away mining ore rejects from the dump, threatening to lodge a police complaint against those involved. On being informed, Phal Dessai rushed to the spot, a move that emboldened the locals, who then confronted the forest personnel.

The MLA argued that the ore rejects were being used by the villagers for constructing a playground through ‘shramdaan’ — voluntary community labour — as no other suitable ground was available in the area.

“Around 15 years ago, mining companies dumped ore rejects on this forest department land, and nobody objected then. Now the villagers have no other area for a playground, so let them clear it. I undertake to get this area cleared within a couple of hours,” Phal Dessai told the forest officials.

Pointing to the scale of the dump — estimated at 250 to 300 truckloads — he questioned why removing 20 to 30 truckloads for levelling a playground would cause any harm.

Phal Dessai also dared the forest department to file a police complaint against him along with the villagers, signalling that he would not back down.