Chief Minister Digambar Kamat showed a remarkable lack of discernment when
he proclaimed at the recent CII Annual Day function that land was the root
cause for various agitations in the state. In fact, had the Chief Minister
been more in touch with the pulse of the people, he would have probably
understood that the genesis of the innumerable campaigns against
developmental projects throughout the length and breadth of the state was
the complete dissatisfaction with governance and loss of credibility of this
and previous Governments. For a once trusting Goan populace, the chickens
have come home to roost as we now comprehend and suffer the ill effects of
"development" configured to suit a select few at the cost of the vast
majority. Today, people have learnt from the hard lessons of the past,
whether it is the imposition of industrial estates without anticipating
where the water and power will come from or where the monumental garbage
generated will be disposed off, or real estate projects that upset the
demography and environment of villages. Undoubtedly RP2011 and the SEZs were
projects that would have eaten large chunks of precious and limited Goan
land. But for most Goans, what was most disturbing was the alleged
illegalities and connivance of the decision makers with industrialists and
real estate developers in the handing over of public land, acquired from
hapless Goans and comunidades.
While it is true that the Chief Minister did respond to a resisting populace
by scrapping SEZs, the people have noted with deep concern his total
reluctance to hold the relevant authorities accountable for their deeds of
omission and commission. In fact, a group of ordinary citizens put their
lives on hold for almost a year, collecting and analysing information
through the RTI Act and drafting an FIR against the GIDC for alleged
illegalities, which was filed with the Goa Police. Digambar Kamat's
government apparently, did not think that these citizens deserved justice,
let alone the courtesy of a reply. And yet, the Chief Minister feels that
land and not his government's attitude to common citizens is the root cause
of the people's agitations.
Today, the people of Goa are justified in feeling that the ruling class,
along with the various lobbies operating in the state, are functioning like
a cartel, selling off the community's precious assets, and depriving
ordinary Goans of a stake in their motherland. Digambar Kamat will find that
the people of Goa will co-operate in the process of development, when he and
his government demonstrate that the law is above politics and politicians.
And the first step in this long journey is to tighten governance, inculcate
respect for the law not only among the people, but also amongst the
bureaucrats and politicians and send a strong message to the lobbyists that
Goa is not on sale.
And when the Chief Minister shows the political will and moral backbone to
investigate thoroughly the role of the investors in collaboration with the
decision makers in the SEZ imbroglio, then we shall see if the tears he is
so copiously shedding over their "lost investments" is justified.
Diana Pinto
