Rehabilitation of Abandoned Mines in Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, Goa DHWANI SHAH (Batch 2014-16)

Rehabilitation of Abandoned Mines in Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, Goa DHWANI SHAH (Batch 2014-16) Goa is a mineral rich state, with an economy that is largely dependent on two major activities: tourism and mining. Goa was under Portuguese rule until 1961, during which time several mining concessions were granted that were valid till the ore was exhausted. In 1961, when Goa became a part of India, the laws and rules related to mining that were in operation in the Indian Union became applicable to Goa as well. As per the Goa, Daman and Diu Mining Concessions (Abolition and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act 1987 the mining concessions were replaced by mining leases valid for 20 years period. My study focused on the abandoned mines in Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary. Exposed ore in the abandoned mines 19 The sanctuary falls in Sanguem District of like Acacia mearnasii, Acacia auriculiformis and South Goa and was notified in 1999 by the Goa Eupatorium adenophorum. Acacia mearnasii government. The mining activities inside the and Acacia auriculiformis trees were planted by sanctuary went on unhindered until 2003. the mining lease holders under social forestry. These plants are invasive and do not allow In 2003, the Goa Foundation filled a case against natural growth of other plants. Eupatorium such mining activities before the Centrally adenophorum is also an invasive species. It Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme attracts pollinators and affects the local species Court. In 2003, the CEC passed an order that no of plants. Their seeds travel faster and the plant mining can take place in a wildlife sanctuary finds it easy to colonize itself in disturbed areas or a national park. The mining activities like mines. were stopped forthwith, but without any rehabilitation of the mines. The objective of my The benches of the mines were also collapsing Water filled open cast mines below groundwater level study was to understand the status of reasons due to creation of irregular benches and non- as to why these mines were not rehabilitated maintenance. This has also led to further even after 13 years of closure. exposure of the ore and erosion. Some of the mines also operated below the ground water During my visit to these mines in 2015, the table. The leaching of the mineral into the mines were still in the same condition with ground water requires to be studied. The dumps collapsing benches, heaps of dumps and rejects. of the mines have not been created in a stable During the visit to the mines, I observed that the manner with required elevation and plantation. natural growth of some trees and grass species Being in the Western Ghats, the rainfall is heavy had come up on mines that were close to the and the loose soil and rejects of the mines flows dense forest areas. The mines that were on the along with the streams and enter into the rivers. periphery with less forest cover around them Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary is an important showed lesser growth of plants and grasses. catchment area of the feeder rivers for Salaulim dam which is the main source of water to South In some mines, the pugmarks of several animals Goa. Unused pipelines in the abandoned mine and their scat was also observed. All the mines have faced a wide growth of invasive species During my interaction with the tribes that live 20 inside the sanctuary, the general view about the dropping the seeds of grasses. Grasses would mines was that the mines should be restored act as pioneering species which would not back to forests. Majority of the tribal population only be instrumental in arresting the erosion works in areas outside the sanctuary. The from the unstable dumps but will also set the economic dependence of these communities on grounds fertile for the other plants and trees the wild is reduced. Farming of cashew nut and to take root. Efforts should be taken to clear all strawberry takes place inside the sanctuary. the invasive species that have taken root in and around the disturbed areas. The Forest Department has initiated the rehabilitation of some mines in the sanctuary. All the mining pits should be filled with the The Forest Department has also created check mining dumps which would prevent further dams to control erosion from the dumps, exposure of the minerals and would also altered the slopes and planted some native prevent the runoff from the surrounding areas Natural restoration of abandoned mines species of trees that would help in protecting contaminating the water. It is also essential to the area. study ground water contamination due to the exposure of the minerals. The forests of Goa Some of the major reasons why these mines are essential corridors for wildlife connecting were not rehabilitated by the mining companies the forests of Maharashtra with the forests of were that the sanctuary was notified only Goa. These forests also serve as a tiger corridor in 1999, while the mining leases were valid between Radhanagri Wildlife Sanctuary, till 2007. Moreover, since several years have Maharashtra and the forests in Karnataka. The passed by, some of the lease owners who impact of non-rehabilitation of such mines on were individuals are no more. The Forest the wild animals and the corridors should be Department has also, through various written studied. letters asked the owners of the leases to take the responsibility of rehabilitating the mines. All these efforts have yielded no results. As per my observations, some of the ways by which the mines can be rehabilitated are by 21.

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