Villagers, Forest Officials Face Off Over Iron Ore Movement in Sanguem

Sanguem: Tension flared in Rivona village of Sanguem taluka on Saturday after a confrontation broke out between local villagers and Forest Department officials over the movement of iron ore from a proposed reserve forest area.According to police, around 100 villagers gathered at the site and objected when Forest Department officials attempted to stop the transportation of ore. The villagers were reportedly led by State River Navigation Minister Subhash Phal Desai, who was present during the incident.Police described the episode as a minor scuffle and said the situation was quickly brought under control without any major injuries or damage.Forest Department officials maintained that the iron ore was located within a proposed reserve forest area and could not be moved without the necessary permissions. They stated that government rules prohibit the transportation of ore dumps situated in forest land unless the material has been legally auctioned through the State Mining Department.Responding to the allegations, Minister Phal Desai clarified that the ore was not being transported for commercial purposes. He said the material was being shifted from one location to another nearby to facilitate the development of a playground for local youth.

“The area where youngsters used to play had become unusable due to the ore dump. The material was only being relocated within the same vicinity to create space for a sports ground,” Phal Desai said.The minister further argued that there was no intention to sell the ore and questioned the Forest Department's decision to intervene in the matter.The incident has once again highlighted the ongoing tensions surrounding mining-related activities and land use in Goa's forested regions.