Nandkumar through his writing has expressed concern against environmental,
cultural and social wrong doings in Goa. He has worked for tribals, deprived
and needy. He was student leader and continues to be a leader amongst thinkers.
His scientific mind is appreciated and admired by many including me.
But every one has likings, priorties, constraints and weakness. When Digamber
became chief minister, Nandkumar praised him. Perhaps that has constrained
Nandkumar not to speak against mining accesses for last three years, because
Digamber is the only person responsible for them. Digamber sidecasted Charles
Correa Regional plan despite GBA’s follow-ups (grossly ineffective efforts).
Nandkumar in his felicitation speech at Gomant Vidhya Niketan in Margao
expressed that Digamber would solve all problems related to Land sharks in six
months. But Digamber dragged the issue for three years and of-late has become
even bigger Rule flouter than Babush. I have not come accross Nandkumar
uttering a word on this leave alone denouncing Digamber’s actions and
inactions. However, after GBA started losing ground and VGG took over the
initiative, Nandkumar has started raising Land Shark issues, but without
blaming the TCP minister.
Now, Nandkumar wants the CM, Who is the Mines Minister of Goa for last 11 years
(He must by now know mining nitty gritties as much as Mine Owners and more than
anyone else in Goa) to attack sand miners. CM is not taking any steps to rein
in illegal mining and excesses in iron ore (mining without leases, leased mines
operating without relevant approvals, legally leased miners digging outside
leased area, ore transport flouting rules, laws and court orders, under paying
royalties). Iron Ore creates nuisance 100 times or even more than the sand
mining.
Sand mining activity yields subsistence earnings running in few crores
annually, whereas iron ore mining yields Windfall profit of Rs 10,000 crore
annually. For comparison Budgeted revenue of entire state of Goa is Rs 2700
crore for 2010-11. Doudts arise, why Nandkumar is turning Nelson’s Eye to Iron
ore mining, which creates 100 times more problems than sand mining? Is it to
divert public attention from a problem which hurts Digamber? Or is it because
people residing in Western Goa are less aware of the Woes of Eastern Goa?
Nandkumar is not a cut-n-paste internet scientist. I can recollect his study
few years ago, of Taleigao plateau trees called Sanver, the timing of breaking
of its bondas releasing of winged seeds and how it can be calibrated as a lead
indicator of rain activity in Goa. And therefore I do not expect that Nandkumar
is ignorant of woes of people in Rivona, Quepem, Sanvordem, Usgao, Bicholim,
Shirgaon, Advalpal, Honda, Sanquelim, Pale, Dhrbandora or Molem. He in many of
his articles has also high-lighted the importance of aiming the eye of the bird
as Arjuna did.
Considering this, I am quite certain that he is fully aware that the main
problem nagging Goa and which does have potential to create a mass unrest if
not Naxalite overtones is iron ore mining and transportation thereof. People
dying or getting disabled under the wheels of mining trucks, the pollution
menace faced by both poor and well-to-do, the futility of innumerable
complaints to administration and police, the neglect by politicians, media
censorship with an eye on government advertisements and flouting of reliefs
given by the judiciary are recipes for a major up-rising.
Take the case of Carmo Cardozo, an aged mother of three. Ten years ago, she
built a comfortable house on Rivona-Jambaulim road. She had all comforts and a
peaceful life till mining transport started in Rivona some five years ago.
Today she says her life is like hell. She just touches any part of her house or
any furniture and shows her hand coated with mining dust. Her sons come home
after day’s hard work and help their mother to mop up the house-floor of the
mineral layer. When they eat, it constantly strikes their mind that iron-ore
dust is present in their food. They eat but don’t relish. When they sleep, the
bed linen has to be dusted several times. The sleep is disturbed. Trees around
her house are all brown. The cross, which she paints white every Christmas
becomes reddish-brown a month later. The biggest disdain is that her
innumerable complaints to police and administration were unheard. Anyone can
ring her on 9421193858 and learn her plight
directly from her or visit her house to see for real.
What is stopping Nandkumar from reaching for the bird’s eye? Is it the stance
on Digamber, which he inadvertently got committed to, believing the promises
Digamber displayed at that time? Nandkumar is a practical person and to my
opinion he would not shy away from admitting his judgement errors. History
tells us that even the best philophers of the World have erred on Politicians.
There is room for excusing Nandkumar for his silence. The arrival of Nachiketas
and experience and enjoyment of his initial growth coincided and might have
kept Nandkumar occupied. And no one intends to deprive him of that enjoyment
and experience. Hopefully he now finds more time for his passion – good of Goa.
And being one of the person at the apex of Goan social cause he is expected to
hit the bull’s eye (most nagging issues) and does not stray in less critical
areas, which he can leave (or be a guide) for new-comers to try their hands
with.
While Nandkumar is the substance of the current discussion on Goanet, there are
likes of Oscar, who have won many an Oscars from people of Goa for their
impeccable love for Goa, but have later ignored the scars that their favourite
politicians inflicted on to Goa. Finally, there are limitations as to how far
one can stretch his likings, priorties, constraints unless the person has too
many weaknesses.
Rajendra Kakodkar
