Like valmiki and Rajan, I am extremely concerned and distressed about the way this congress government has and continues to squander the most important asset that Goa has, it's beautiful land. They tried and failed with 2011 plan. Now, we discover that this government has already sold large swathes of land to industry as well as builders under the name of SEZs. One such SEZ on Keri plateau is likely to take water away from surrounding agricultural land and deprive the people of their livelihood probably long before any person from this locality gets a job with Cipla, the company planning to set up a unit there.
Slowly and steadily, Goa is being sold in plots. Some of us who were born around the time we gained independence, never had a chance to play any part in the struggle for independence. During the opinion poll, we were in our half pants, too young to vote or make a difference. All we have today is primarily because of what Goa gave us: our education, our identity. Time has now come for us to start a struggle for second independence to reclaim and retain what remains of Goa for posterity. In this struggle, we need to stand together, Valmiki and Rajan included. We need professional from all fields to get involved. If not, we will wake up one day to find that most of Goa has been covered by concrete. I admire the passion with which Valmiki makes his argument and also like the realistic analysis of Rajan Parriker. I have some experience of the depth to which authorities can sink when they have to deal with sincere opposition. However, if we stand together, no building mafia, however powerful can touch us. I think it would be wrong to trust our honourable chief minister with the task of stopping SEzs. This is the man who has to run to Madam to get permission for everything. With the experience of Nandigram, she may allow him to cancel the SEZs but what if she does not? I appeal to all Goans, within and outside Goa to lend their support to people like Mathany Saldhana, Uth goenkar and any other individula/organisation that is striving to get the scheme of SEZs cancelled. Anil Desai
