To Goanet - It is a source of amusement to me, this divining of my motives behind posting photographs of Goa's destruction. I am certain that had Manohar Parrikar been in power right now, there would be no questions raised of my motives on Goanet. Which brings us to the following possibility: tomorrow Manohar may return to power, and I may stop writing on Goanet. There could be a variety of reasons - change in personal circumstances, or I may simply decide to do something else, or the doubters may well be right that all this time & effort I am currently expending is solely in service of a partisan agenda. I have two things to say to these folks: One, what or who is stopping YOU from going out and photographing Manohar's misdeeds? Are you only going to be the exponent of the armchair critique? Two, why do you expect me to carry this burden all the time? It is not as if I am on your payroll or that I have any obligation to do this the rest of my life. Moving along...
The village of Pilerne is next on the chopping block. I was driving through a couple of days back when I came upon this by the main road through the village (I think this ward is called Naveti). A large block of property fenced off signaling imminent construction - http://www.parrikar.org/images/samples/pilerne-1.jpg I went over to the side and took a peek - http://www.parrikar.org/images/samples/pilerne-2.jpg The Bihari guard would not reveal anything (soon there will be more ghati guards in Goa than Goans). Causal inquiries with the villagers revealed that the owner is from Mumbai and that the construction has been sub-contracted to Milroc. Some said that the property had been sold to an outsider by Bhonsle (of Cafe Bhonsle). I haven't verified any of this with the village panchayat yet. At any rate, immediate action is needed to investigate and nip this potential atrocity. I was in Pilerne for I had received a tip-off (thanks, LV !) of suspicious activity at the Savlem lake, a soothing patch of quietude - http://www.parrikar.org/images/samples/pilerne-savlem-1.jpg Savlem lake has a busy bird life - http://www.parrikar.org/images/samples/pilerne-savlem-2.jpg At the edge of the lake, this ominous sight, a freshly-built embankment - http://www.parrikar.org/images/samples/pilerne-savlem-3.jpg I took a look-in. There were no boards or signs anywhere. My informant had indicated that the perpetrator was a prominent Goa builder of Kerala origin. What exactly is going on here? http://www.parrikar.org/images/samples/pilerne-savlem-4.jpg >From the embankment, looking towards the lake. It looks as if the field has been encroached on - http://www.parrikar.org/images/samples/pilerne-savlem-5.jpg A well has been dug. Take note of the water pipe and the electric connection because in the next slide you will see where they lead to - http://www.parrikar.org/images/samples/pilerne-savlem-6.jpg Over the fence and into the lake. The fellows are draining the the lake for their own use. The motor is hidden & out of sight - http://www.parrikar.org/images/samples/pilerne-savlem-7.jpg Behind this site is another ongoing construction, this time by a fellow named "Prakash" from UP, who apparently has a business in Porvorim (all this according to the two UP ghatis loitering at the site) - http://www.parrikar.org/images/samples/pilerne-savlem-8.jpg This fellow's motor and drain source are for all to see - http://www.parrikar.org/images/samples/pilerne-savlem-9.jpg Why do we even bother? Simply hand Goa off to the wretched Indians and be done with it. Warm regards, r ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
