The controversial concretization of a lush green eco-sensitive area into a multi-purpose ground is a hot topic in Colva today and this letter will catch the attention of many people, particularly my fellow Colvenkars. I always loved Colva since I was a Child. I recollect the village as very clean, pristine white beach sands, lush greenery etc. Over the past so many years however, I am pained to see this once beautiful village rapidly deteriorating into a place of filth, stink, creek/other places polluted with sewage, rapidly diminishing greenery, un-wanted constructions/mega projects, water contamination etc. One has to only visit Colva and its beach to see for themselves. All of the latter has increased the monetary assets (mostly illegally) of greedy; local politicians, real estate agents, builders, specific hoteliers, specific restaurant owners and now also many un-ethical people from outside Goa. One common element which has facilitated Colva’s decline to chaos, is the bunch of known corrupt local politicians, who I have seen in power in Colva for many years and I find it strange to believe that the Good People of Colva, besides electing these people time & time again, are still taking the their; despite knowing their backgrounds and that their properties/houses/flashy cars were obtained via corrupt ways, in the selling/destruction of my village. I do not have problem with having a good lifestyle but not at the cost of rapidly destroying our Colva village. It appears that many Colvenkars have a short memory on things that really matter, like for example the known destructive/corrupt elements.
Now, we have a lush eco-sensitive green area (one of few areas left in the village) opposite the Church and it appears there are people who were silent on the all the other wrong doings on Colva and SAG Ground, have now suddenly woken to destroy/concretize the area. The SAG Sports Ground near the beach remain totally un-maintained & un-utilized, this could have been easily developed into a world class sports centre for the Village. Many are listening to the propaganda of un-qualified individuals for concretizing the eco-sensitive area; why not ask the opinion of credible national/local environment agencies/experts. Of course my other point is why another ground when we already have one big SAG un-utilized one? There is talk by the un-qualified experts of drainage systems etc to which I ask Colvenkars the following question, when our in-competent current system can’t manage basic infrastructure, clean beaches/creek, streets etc in Colva, how can we believe that they can setup a good drainage system in concretizing the area. I appreciate that there plans to bring about a better garbage management system in Colva but I am talking on basis of where Colva currently is; which is of course a complete big pathetic mess. I call for the proposed plans for the ground on the lush green eco-sensitive area to be scrapped, however if the overwhelming majority of the Colvenkars still want to concretize this area then I request that (A) Can we first look at developing the SAG ground as a sports centre for the village instead of converting another scarce land resource, (B) Have a total environment/disaster management assessment be done by credible experts, so as to avoid any calamities/floods in the future. We are of course aware of short sighted development is many parts of India, which has led to man-made calamities. Arwin Mesquita, UAE. -- Please post your comments on my Blog: http://goanidentity.blogspot.com/ Please also see below: 1. Benaulim Village Action Committee: http://www.bvacbenaulim.blogspot.com/ 2. "Rape of Goa" : http://www.parrikar.com/blog/the-rape-of-goa/ 3. MAND - an adivasi-rights resource centre : http://mandgoa.blogspot.com/ 4. EVERY GOAN SHOULD SEE THIS VIDEO: http://infochangeindia.org/Infochange-documentary.html 5. Goa's Identity Movement group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com//#/group.php?gid=193497031686 6. Official Government Site NRI Office (GOA): http://www.globalgoans.org.in/