George, You are absolutely right about the horrible consequences the proposed airport at Mopa would have for Goa.
In order to win this war against the new airport, we need to come up with a winning strategy. I am least likely to believe that we can win this fight by keeping a narrow focus - that is, by merely fighting against the construction of the new airport. I think we need to completely change our view and fight to introduce radical changes in Goan politics. For this to happen, we need to energize our Goan base. Here are some possible ways to attack the problem: 1. Create a completely new political party and field new young blood as candidates against the establishment. That basically means, either significantly pruning the influence or kicking out, both Congress and BJP from power in Goa. 2. To win assembly elections for these progressive candidates, we need to begin grassroots movement to engage and generate partnerships with - everybody from college students to adults on big issues at hand. 3. The candidates who would run for office under the new party, should have leadership qualities, be educated and have a pulse with Goan people. These candidates should represent all major religious and income groups in Goa. 4. Organize fund-raisers in Goa and across the globe to help fund this party. The party should maintain transparency in its dealings with its supporters via a website. Upon coming to power, this new party should immediately do the following: a. Implement term limits on the number of terms MLA's can serve in Goa's assembly. b. They should allow a max of 2 terms or a total of 10 years (whichever is lower) c. Scrap Mopa airport for good and work out a deal with the ministry of defense to relinquish control of Dabolim airport. d. Engage the central government on granting special status to Goa. e. Take over the ownership of mines - sign short term leases with mining houses and impose state royalty fees on ore exports. I am not sure if this is already in place. If it is, the royalty collections are poorly enforced. The funds raised thus, can be used for providing world class education to Goan children and to improve Goa's infra-structure - such as making Goa self sufficient in electric power generation capabilities and improve water supply and providing better roads. f. Make police force completely independent of Goa government. The position of Chief of Police in the state should be made into an office that is elected by its people. I believe the central government in India also deputes it's own officer as police chief - but these scumbags can be easily sidelined by having Goa's own independent chief and relegating the guy from the center to ceremonial chair. g. Similar to an elected Police Chief, we should have an elected Advocate General and all of Goa's prosecutors. Salaries of all such officers ought to be set by Goa's cabinet. h. Scrap most political appointments to various state owned enterprises so that the people get to elect officers of their choice. i. Introduce fair zoning laws and ban mega-projects in villages that destroy the demographics of such villages. g. Create rules to re-call MLA's while in office with a 25% signature campaign. This way, activities of MLA's are kept in check. If the MLA's end up becoming scumbags - simply recall them. I am sure the political manifesto can grow with many new ideas - but I am sure, you get the gist .... BTW, I am not trying to preach Goans in Goa on how they should go about their business. I see myself as one of them, even if it means I work outside of Goa. So let's get down to some serious talk followed by concrete actions. Jim Fernandes. New York. --- On Sun, 6/23/13, George Pinto <[email protected]> wrote: > From: George Pinto <[email protected]> > Subject: [Goanet] Goans should oppose the MOPA land scam > To: " estb. 1994!Goa's premiere mailing list" <[email protected]> > Date: Sunday, June 23, 2013, 1:33 PM > If one supports MOPA, that means they > support the following: > > 1. The MOPA land scam, supported by both political parties > who will make a lot of illegal money in the various > transactions. > 2. The effective merger of Goa into Maharashtra. > 3. A continued increase of migrants in Goa to work on > illegal projects (mega-projects, MOPA, etc.). > 4. The Navy's illegal land grab at Dabolim, including using > eminent domain to confiscate Goan land to build private > Naval facilities like swimming pools and private parking, > etc. while depriving native Goans of their ancestral land. > Also an influx of naval officers to retire in Goa. > 5. The end of civilian flights at Dabolim. > 6. Further big increases in Goa's land prices making it > unaffordable for Goans to buy land while illegal money from > Mumbai and Delhi is whitewashed by migrants in Goa. > > How much were the "experts" bribed to lie about their > conclusions that MOPA is good for Goa? > > George >
