MP Shantaram L Naik RS has painstakingly taken up yet another issue this time the Bimbvel Beach and the two islands "Grande" and St George Island Mormugao Taluka which the Indian Navy sensing public resentment from Goans now wishes to use the urgency clause under Land Acquisition proceedings. There is clearly an intention of the Navy to usurp vast tracts of Land seemingly under security considerations. The Adarsh episode in Maharashtra which seen heads of the high and mighty roll and others to follow suit is starring in the face of the Defence Ministry and one cannot trust their intentions any longer. Earlier it was the Anjediv Islands which still forms a part of Canacona Taluka in Goa. Govt of Goa had allowed the use of the 37,000 ha of land for the use of the Navy, and they had included therein a condition that subject to security consideration the two customary feasts on 2nd Feb and 4th Oct should be permitted to be celebrated by the faithful. In October 2004 the Navy prohibited all celebrations under the guise of an administrative order from the Dy Commisioner of North Canara (UK) Karwar albeit under security threat or law and order situation then How could the DC of Uttar Kanara District Karnataka prohibit entry into the island which is still a part of Goa and has not been ceded by an act of Parliament? And the Navy took this as an excuse to ban festivities until now. The Navy adopts a dual attitude while they permit entry of civilians on Navy Day 4th December,on their warships and at the Karwar Base at Arga with due security considerations visitors using photo identity cards for entry they are reluctant to adopt the same in the case of customary feasts at Anjediv. Even the Martyrs memorial on the Island in memory of the six Indian army combatants who were shot dead on 22.12.1961 after Liberation of Goa have been declared out of bound for public . In the 50th year of Liberation one would have aspired to visit the island and pay homage at the Martyrs memorial but apparently the Defence authorities themselves are ignorant of this fact that exists on the Island. Can the Defence authorities be trusted on their expansionist plans with . Never. It is time Govt of Goa pursued the issue at the highest level and express the sentiments of the people. The Defence authorities cannot alienate the civilians or run roughshod over the sentiments of the civilians. Its also time enough that our MP's in Lok Sabha join hands and arrest this trend of expansion and roughshod acquisitions. With the first session of the Legislative Assembly slated for this month end the Govt of Goa should place on the table of the House a strong resolution stating that for whatever reason the State Government's views should be taken into considerations. GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA) +91 98221 58584 (24 HRS) [email protected]
