George Pinto wrote: > Someone (the Indian navy) steals your house (Dabolim). Instead of fighting to > regain your home, you say let's then build another house (MOPA) to house > your family (Goans) and univited guests (migrants to work on illegal projects > like MOPA and mega-projects). And you think it is ok to that illegal money > from > the construction of the new house (MOPA) goes to the MOPA builders > (non-Goans) > and their agents (politicians). > > All of this while your family home (Dabolim) was sufficient for your current > and > future family needs and their economic future. In addition, the people (the > Indian Navy) who illegally occupy your current home (Dabolim) have an > alternative facility at Karwar available for their use, but they prefer your > home (Dabolim) and want to bring their buddies (retired Indian naval > officers) > to come over and also confiscate your neighbors land around your home > (Dabolim) > so they can enjoy Goa at the expense of Goans. And oh by the way, when you > build > your new home (MOPA), they would like your Maharashtrian neighbors to use > your > new home (MOPA) and integrate it with Maharashtra. > > MOPA will be the final nail in Goa's coffin. Ok for some, not for me. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
George I believe that you are more concerned about non-Goans settling in Goa than about the benefits of a new airport. A few years ago, the very same people who are now opposed to Mopa were against the building of the Konkan Railway. Their contention was that the railway would allow hoards of people from Bihar to arrive and work in Goa. Today, Goa is flooded with non-Goan labourers. The problem is not the infrastructure they use to get to Goa. The difficulty or ease of passage is not the issue. People will even walk to Goa when Goans encourage them to do so. The real issues are a) who encourages these people to come to Goa and b) what makes the educated leave Goa. Mopa and Dabolim are about the infrastructure and jobs of an economy of the future. Recently, Goanet went gaga when someone sent a video of a cow being driven around in a tight circle in order to turn a press. The end product was fresh coconut oil. Ah! the good ol' days of pure coconut oil made by a cow! I realise it is extremely difficult to explain to those who went gaga on seeing the working of the coconut oil press as to the science involved in jet propulsion. On the other hand, Goans who are experts in jet propulsion have been forced by the economy of Goa to make their living outside it. In other words, the Goan economy is such that the brightest leave and they are replaced by labourers and the unskilled from other parts of India. What is at stake in Mopa is the infrastructure for a new or better economy. An economy more tuned to the 21st century. The alternative is to enjoy things just the way they are in Goa i.e. low paying jobs, no electricity and no water. -x- Diana Pinto wrote: > First of all both of you seem to know peanuts about Goa so cut out all the > supercilious advice and free unwanted consultancy services and leave us > country bumpkins to fend for ourselves. We are those who have stayed with > our land and have not gone off to seek greener pastures. Diana, I am not sure what makes you feel like a country bumpkin but rest assured that I have no intention of telling anyone in Goa what to do. All I can do is point out my view. > There is a huge and flourishing agricultural industry in Mopa > which is filling the people's stomachs very satisfactorily indeed. The argument I just do not get is when someone informs me that, "My dad was a rice farmer. My grandfather was a rice farmer, I am one too and so will be my son." I consider farming an occupation on par with fishing and hunting. It is an occupation that led to prosperous lives in the past. Today, farmers face bankruptcy nearly every year due to vulgarities in the weather, high prices for inputs and low prices for produce. There is no economy in the 21st century that is becoming prosperous because if its farming activities. >THere is no essential infrastructure available in Goa. Water, power >is a problem. Recently the government has publicly declared that it cannot >handle the garbage problem. Then why give NOCs for these mega projects when >you cannot provide the necessary services. Better to use the land for >Dabolim expansion rather than give it to a builder when it has already been >notified. And we have heard all the fairy tales about jobs for Goans, but >have yet to reach the "happily ever after" ending. We are on the same page here. There is no reliable water or electricity and the govt does not function properly. Yet I do not see anyone in Goa demanding that their taxes be first used to provide the roads, water and electricity that are needed for basic living in the 21st century. The money for Mopa is coming from the private sector and from taxes collected in other parts of India. That money is better than manna from heaven. -x- jc wrote: > ps: My gut feeling is that like Anjadiva, Dabolim will go and MOPA will > happen. > The forces of reason and sense will be overcome by the In-Vested interests > who > will be aided, albeit unwittingly by the Mervyns and Tims of this world AND > the > lines outside the Portuguese Consulate and at the Swindon Employment centers > will get even longer, AND we will all be celebrating Hunky Dory every year. Doc, You cannot blame anyone who lives or wants to live outside Goa for the activities that are going on in Goa. I have been reminded time and again by Goans living in Goa that they know what they are doing and I accept that fact. All I can do is point out that the economy of Goa is no where near its potential. Goa is not creating opportunities for Goans. Lastly, let me say this one more time. There is just not going to be any change in Goa without the development of new infrastructure. Mervyn
