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Ifa Saldanha Villa Saldanha, Largo De Estesao Cansaulim Goa 403712 Phone 0832 2755045 Require Upsurge in Goa? Have we not learnt from the annals of history the grave consequences of the electorate going to slumber allowing the rulers a free reign as in France until impoverished, the famished lot to be fed with jibes like “eat cake if no bread?”. Can we not recall vivid memories of Nicolae Ceausescu of Romania who lived in opulence even his toilets to be gold plated until shot dead by frustrated Romanians languishing in want. And recent eye openers in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt are not enough to be in arms lock, stock and barrel against inequitable, economically and environmentally non-sustainable development. Let us strike before it is too late and Goa goes to “Dogs”. Let us exercise our democratic rights and not just rattle Abraham Lincoln’s quote on democracy without conviction. Are we not aware that in democracy that we are the masters and the rulers are sevaks? Prime Minister rightly said it on the day of his swearing-in ceremony that he is Pradan sevak and not mantri. And the Chief minister Kejeriwal too on his auspicious day, pointing to Delhiites squealed “You are the chief ministers ”. Ball is in our court. We the electorate being in majority we have all the power to make the rulers to act to our bidding and accede to our demands provided we are collective whole and not a splintered group. But if detached the mice will be at play which is already spelling doom for Goa. Let us not remain ensconced within our four walls or comfort zones assuming that the NRI remittances will sustain us for eternity “Who is the most apathetic person in the world? Someone who has sight but has no vision ”- Helen keller. In the name of tourism verdant Goa a “pearl of the east” is on the verge of destruction. The absurd statement by the civil aviation director that people from Mopa will not have water problem (even after losing their perennial springs and other water bodies) as they will take recourse to water harvesting incited me to pen this piece. Is not ridiculous to close the natural reservoirs and build dams causing ecological imbalance ?. And if so keen on water harvesting how is it that inspite of torrential rains people are suffering water shortages in different parts of Goa during summer. Is he a science buff to make such sweeping statement ? According to Sunita Narain, director general for science and environment all the calamities are due to willful destruction of water bodies as they are sponges to hold water if not it flows in the low lying areas causing floods. Recent eye openers are Uttarakhand, Mumbai, Srinagar and Malim in Pune. According to the activist Siddharth Karapurkar there are 40 lakhs cashew trees yielding income of 50 crores which will be axed if Mopa Airport becomes a reality. When the scientists are warning of the dangers of global warming due to loss of green cover these rapacious are turning Nelson’s eye to it. How can we responsible Goans remain mute spectators to this travesty even if gullible Mopites are? If nature is gone development will come to a standstill. It will make poor poorer. Due to environmental degradation climatic disasters take a human and natures toll. This people from Mopa who are enticed with jobs to dispense with their land and water resources should make a trip to Verna industrial estate and Zuari agro-chemical industry to get off hand information of the number of Goans employed there though tall promises were made (Politicians have a knack of fooling the people but we should not fall prey to them ). And why should beautiful Mopa green and clean with natural beauty be converted into a slum like Mapusa, Vasco, Taligao, Chimbel etc which is reeking with no proper drainage and sewage system besides being so repugnant to the tourists and passer-bys with the ugly structures lacking aesthetics. High end tourists do not require these monstrosities. As one managing director of Condors was quiet candid in advising Goans not to build huge roads through nature and concrete jungles as Goa does not require it to lure tourists as it will rob its pristine glory. He further stated that Germans and other tourists are interested in nature, culture, heritage, ayurvedic medicines etc. And why should our natural environment be altered to accommodate tourists even violating CRZ rules and even constructing in no settlement zones. Density of population has already crossed the limits for which we will have to pay a heavy price. Already the effects are for us to see with day light robberies, rapes, murders on the rise. No Kejriwal nor any lone activist can sort out our problems. But we the electorate in unison (Aam Admi) can achieve the impossible. Success of democracy is impossible without the participation of the electorate. If the sea of electorate surges forward the coterie of destructive forces can be dismantled or brought to task. It is absurd to believe that the change of rulers will do the miracle. We have been experimenting it for the last sixty years not realizing the fault lies with us who go in hibernation after electing and selecting out representatives and few cronies even bribe them for their survival. Just a handful committed selfless activists ranting becomes voice in the wilderness. Still we can save the vestiges of Goa by shedding of our selfish interests for the collective good. Peoples power always triumphs. Let us avoid being insensitive to Goas plight as Irom Sharmila of Imphal who is on fast for the last fourteen year demanding the repeal of AFSP says “I do not want to be born again as a human being. A human being is so insensitivity”.Certainly because of this insensitivity Goa has reached to such a miserable state with land being guzzled by outsiders. It must not be forgotten that stability of the society depends upon its land. If land is gone everything is gone. Presently land in Goa and even houses and mansions too are changing hands to such an extent that Goans will be landless and strangers in their own land. Development that does not benefit the Goans is not development at all. 80% of work force in industries is from outside. What way Goans benefit after forfeiting their land and water resources? Even constructions being erected are occupied by rich migrants and poor migrants in housing colonies. Let us not fall prey to the gimmicks of whichever dispensation to part with our land in lieu of jobs. No government can provide jobs to all. No millionaire or billionaire has risen with government jobs but by tapping their skills coupled with hard work and perseverance. Let us switch over to our traditional jobs skilled and unskilled instead of doing the same in overseas which will curb migrant menace. And what job security is there in foreign lands if asked to leave like Goans from African continent?. It is ominous sign that migrants are outnumbering Goans due to liberal policies of the governments wiping out uniqueness and its identity. At this juncture certain crucial questions need to be posed to the present dispensation 1) Why are their rulers anti-Goan? 2) Is Goa on sale for tourism and tourists? 3) When fifteen lakhs population in Goa has caused overcrowding how will it be possible to accommodate 16 million tourists in 2016 as envisaged? By building skyscrapers and destroying ecological balance. 4) Why is the government betraying the trust reposed in them by taking unilateral decisions which are detrimental to the well being of the society? 5) When Goan masses are already suffering all sorts of inadequacies what will be their plight if tourism boom? This is just positive criticism for the govt to perform to the optimum. “Yes you need jobs, you need growth, you need a lot things, but to say that you need them before your health-if you are dying, you may look back and say that was not a good decision ” Michael Bloomberg
