Title: Coming soon, the Goan tsunami? By: Cyprian Fernandes Source: Goan Voice UK Daily Newsletter 7 Aug. 2011 at www.goanvoice.org.uk
There is a need to galvanise every man, woman, and child into a human tsunami to clean up Goa. It is to Goa's eternal shame that all aspects of environmental management, especially, appear to be piece-meal, uncoordinated, helter-skelter and often disorganised and corrupt. In comparison with the developed world, Goa, in many respects, is still in the dark ages: The mines department renews leases, the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) grants environment clearances, the forest department gives wildlife and forest clearances, the Indian Bureau of Mines approves plans, the Central government's mines safety department monitors safety aspects and Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) grants consent to operate under the Water and Air Acts. In most western countries, it is the Environment Protection Authority which does all that as well policing, monitoring and prosecuting offenders in the Land and Environment Court. In Goa recently there were infringement notices given to several mining operations but no one in government knew which department would enforce them or prosecute the culprits. Most fingers point at Goa's Chief Minister who is also alleged to have a hand in the illegal mining operations. Goa is sinking in the morass of institutionalised corruption and it will take the equivalent of a Royal Commission to expose all the criminals and clean up Goa. Egyptians have said "no" to corruption and are continuing the battle for honest government. Many Egyptians have died in this cause. Can Goans (both Catholics and Hindus) do that, do they have the will? You don't need a revolution, democracy has many instruments to attain justice for all. Goa must decide it wants a safe and sustainable environment and then go ahead and put in place honest people who will deliver honest government with honest policies. Some will ask: is this possible with corruption firmly in place in the Goan DNA in Goa? Only Goans can answer that question. Carmen Miranda has made some headway in making UK Goans aware of the impending environmental disasters. She was assisted by an enthusiastic bunch of people who included Recruitment and Canvassing Manager (Fiona Lobo), Festival Organiser (Brian Fernandes), Co-ordinator (Cedric DeSouza), Treasurer (Selina Desa), Fund Raising Manager (Edna Fernandes) and a lot of dedicated people who were surprised out of their skins by the support and donations they received at the UK Goan Festival. I am not even sure overseas Goans care enough unless they are approached at a venue like the recent UK Goan Festival. I understand that the Goa Foundation has been solely responsible for bringing illegal miners to the courts. Carmen has been working through the Goa Foundation but as yet there is no concerted effort, no collaboration, no bringing of all the people in Goa and overseas together to save Goa. This is a huge task and will require many millions of dollars and thousands of Goans to achieve the goal. In the process, a new Environment Protection Plan must be nurtured and allowed to deliver a clean environment. We must galvanise every man, woman and child into a human tsunami to clean up Goa. It could only happen in silly Goa where the deputy speaker of the parliament has a two-page Happy Birthday spread. Corruption? Would not happen in a developed country. Culture cringe attack! For years now, Goans have been drinking suspect water. I am not aware of any clinical studies that have established the pollution of the water today. However there is strong suspicion that mining has contaminated springs, dams, rivers and other catchment areas thereby further polluting drinking water with hard metals. It remains a suspicion and must be proven in an environment court and reparation done. A longer version of this column is available at www.cyprianfernandes.blogspot.com
