In the O Heraldo ================= Dr. Ferdinando Falcão, Margão Goa was once upon a time a blessed place, with people living peacefully and harmoniously, everyone was happy, no apprehensions of crime, plenty of clean drinking water, plenty of local food, nobody went hungry; and people could make a living. Goa is now on the verge of total destruction with misgovernment for the past three or four decades. We have no one to blame, but the majority of ourselves as we have elected the people who govern our land. In the name of development, any projects are started. Basically these projects are not for the benefit of the Goans, but for selfish interests. And Goans being gullible swallow any nonsense fed to them. Presently, after all these decades of development, Goans cannot make ends meet, no job opportunities, no security of their lives and belongings. Are not the basic needs that need to be tackled first?
Our successive governments have started projects without going into the full implications of such projects, and who are the sufferers are the Goans themselves. Take the example of the Konkan Railway project; ever since it started it has become a nightmare for the Police Department, with murders, burglaries, thefts ever on the increase. The increase in road area in Goa reaching everyones doorstep has given rise to increase numbers of vehicles that has led to several deaths and crippling. Development always comes with its disadvantages, and it is this, that we need to combat first. In Goa, for the moment we do not need further development like an international airport at Mopa. Tourism cannot be boosted by adding an airport, but by providing basic facilities and security to tourists which is lacking. Our basic needs need to be tackled by upgrading the police force and forensic technology so that the police have an upper hand on criminals. We need to force our government to enact laws that entitles at least 80 per cent of the jobs in Goa to the Goans; and any establishment not adhering to these norms need be penalised. We need not destroy Goa to give jobs for outsiders. And for the people of Pernem, let me tell you of the things you will face if the airport materialises at Mopa. Many of the construction workers will linger on, and slums will develop. Criminal activities will be on the rise. Concrete jungles will grow and with virgin soil covered with all these artificial structures, water absorption area will decrease creating water scarcity. Farmers will be dispossessed, and will have to seek employment. Pernem will be a city, life will be expensive; electricity, telephone, water tariffs will shoot up. Air, noise and garbage pollution will increase. Goa will then be made a second Bombay. =========== B. Colaço ___________________________________________________________ How much free photo storage do you get? Store your holiday snaps for FREE with Yahoo! Photos http://uk.photos.yahoo.com