"Every dream has a tinge of a nightmare" says Sujay Gupta in his "Green Movement has shades of black". Sometimes however, a luckless people wake up to the chilling reality that the dream is in fact a nightmare. And this is the naked truth that the people of Goa are facing today.
For the unfortunates living in mining villages, life in fact has turned into one, long, living nightmare, where families are compelled to move residences according to the piecemeal exploitation of the mining leases, which in some areas have threatened entire villages. Water and air pollution and in some cases, the end of agriculture as a source of livelihood are some of the other hazards these hapless souls have to contend with. It is interesting that Mr. Gupta's piece has failed to examine the role of government policy makers and regulatory bodies, who are statutorily responsible for protecting the environment, the interests of the people and the state, and of course ensuring that the spirit as well as the letter of relevant laws are implemented scrupulously. Whilst applauding people's initiatives in various movements, Mr. Gupta has not seen fit to query why the people find themselves compelled to constantly come out into the streets for causes like the agitation against the Regional Plan 2011, anti SEZ and anti mega projects in the villages, which Mr. Gupta himself has deemed as "serious and genuine", if the authorities are in fact doing their job as they are supposed to. Mr. Gupta should understand that when people are obliged to seek justice time and again, against a Government and its regulatory bodies who are all part of a callous system that is constantly seen to be working at cross purposes to the interests of the state and its people in collusion with lobbyists and the big moneybags , then trust in the system is undermined and destroyed. People understand that the onus of protecting the interests of their land, environment and the wellbeing of their community rests solely upon themselves because those they have elected, have cold bloodedly abdicated their responsibility. Mr. Gupta seems to believe that this is a fight between the people and the mine owners, which is perhaps why he has mooted a "serious citizen's watchdog" to ensure that illegal mining is prevented, but envisaged no role for the Government and its functionaries who incidentally, are drawing salaries from the public exchequer, precisely to perform this duty. Why hasn't the Government addressed the "forests that have been cut and the hills that have been raped"? Unless the regulatory bodies are turning a convenient blind eye, how are illegal mines being permitted to operate in Advalpal? Is it not the duty of the Government to periodically undertake a social and environmental audit of the implications and fallout on the people of mining leases that have been granted way back in Portuguese times? After all, the situation and the ground reality in today's democratic milieu, is quite different from that which existed in colonial times. And as he has rightly pointed out, mining is an "industry that by its very nature takes a lot away from the land and involves aa fair amount of environment depletion." The mess today, is not because mining companies are breaking the laws, or that environmentalists are encouraging the people to stand up against the injustices in the mining villages. The root of the problem is a Government that has shirked its responsibility. After all, the people of Goa have not elected industrialists, mine owners or journalists however well meaning, to represent their interests and protect their well being. And yes Mr. Gupta, mining is harmful in our small state of Goa, because it is being carried out in populated areas, badly affecting the lives of people living in the villages. Even if Mr. Gupta's revelations about Shyam Sundar Naik are true, he has not enlightened us as to the fallout of the mining activities on Shyam Sundar Naik, that necessitated the award of Rs.48,000 to him in compensation by the company. Also it is interesting to know why a mining company feels compelled to lavishly donate a large sum of money (Rs.11,44,000) if they have kept all the laws and have a court order to prove it. And if their donation was purely philantropic, why do they feel that Shyam Sundar Naik must refrain from speaking against what he perceives as injustice. Did the mining company in question believe that they had bought Shyam Sundar Naik's silence through their donation? If Shyam Sundar Naik is contracted to the mining company, does his obligation to the company negate his obligation to his community? Is his soul also contracted to the company? These are all profound issues that must be pondered over by both Mr. Gupta and the mining company whose case he represents so passionately in this column. Those who have been actively involved in people's movements are well aware that it is the oldest trick in the book to tarnish the reputation of activists and undermine their cause, as was seen recently in the dubbing of Seby Rodrigues as a "Naxalite" by a prominent politician. And the alleged "doubtful" character of individual activists, should not overshadow the burning relevance and legitimacy of the issues raised by campaigners. The people would wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Gupta that "mining companies should be prevented from mining illegally". The only problem is who will bell the cat? As Mr. Gupta himself has admitted, illegal mines and other illegal related activities are being carried out unchecked in mining areas. But when people attempt to stop these activities, they are labelled as "Naxalites" by the very system that should in fact be actually monitoring and controlling these activities. It would indeed be wonderful if "mining companies replenish what they take from the earth in the best manner possible". Unfortunately, the best manner possible may not be good enough for the people actually suffering the terrible effects of mining, especially if the replenishment comes in the shape of monetary compensation or donations to charitable institutions. There is an old saying "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride". Mr. Gupta's worthy suggestions are more conducive to Utopia rather than Goa. This alas, is the real world. Its a world where mining magnates get away with impunity when they coolly abandon broken down vessels on the coastline, posing an environmental threat and hazard to the community. Its a world where FIRs filed by concerned citizens detailing illegalities in the allocation of land to SEZ promoters are not registered by the law enforcing authorities, who do not see themselves as accountable to the people. Its a world where a leader of the "finest movement in Goa's history, the agitation against the Regional Plan" has to stomach the fact that the authorities have mysteriously "lost" the file of Aldeia de Goa, and no one, just no one is being held accountable. Most of all, this is Goa, with the dubious distinction of being one of the country's most corrupt states. But the people of Goa will wholeheartedly endorse Mr. Gupta when he says "Let God be the judge of our heroes and our villains".
