Villagers of Cavrem-Quepem have expressed fears over an iron and manganese mine at Devapan-Dongor, even as the Goa Pollution control board has conveyed a hearing at Mallikarjun Temple at Cavrem on April 28 at 11 am. The villagers were aggrieved after the mine owner sought the renewal of the mining lease. "The proposed mining area, with a radiant of 40 mtrs, is situated atop the hillock at Devapan-Dongor and our houses are barely at a distance of 200-300 mtrs. If the mining is allowed, we will be affected by dust pollution and siltation,' said villagers while speaking to Herald. Villagers claimed that they would not allow mine to function at any cost. Agriculture, being the main source of income of villagers, is situated at the foot of the hillock and is in danger as the irrigation water comes from the mountain. "If the mine is permitted, water resources will dry up and this will threaten our agriculture,' claimed one villager. The villagers claimed that there are four springs on Devapan Dongor, of which water from one spring is diverted to a PWD tank to supply to the entire village. Due to proposed mining, all natural water resources are at stake. Eighty percent of the villagers are tribals, who have their place of worship at Devapan Dongor. "If the proposed mine is allowed, our place of worship will be destroyed,' feared the villagers. Added Sandeep Velip: "The government hesitates to give us few acres of government land, which we have used for cultivation. But it does not hesitate to give vast tracts of government land to the mine owners.'