Tuesday, 12 April 2005. To, The Governor of Goa, Panaji. �Goa.
Your Excellency, Today we will just update you on what other Saligaokars around the world are saying about our Salmona Spring and the government's lethargy in saving it. Here are excerpts from one reaction: "If this area belongs to Saligao, & it has been since time immemorial, then it is in our interests to "preserve the forest area and environment" which was why the Dharna was held. "...the Spring lives & as such it should continue to live. At least those Saligaokars physically involved there (as opposed to the rest of us abroad) are really trying hard to keep what is there of the Spring & I applaud them but the fact remains & we should keep in sight - no development (whether concrete or tourism) on all fronts, just restore to original by clearing away the litter/debris & try to prevent the garbage (another issue) from the top of the hill polluting the area & the water of the Spring. "Next thought ... construction work, �buildings, & what comes after....people, garbage etc. ... what a contradiction! On the one hand opposing (do I recall that it was 100 Saligaokars?) development of the area as a tourist spot, on the other- permitting construction work on land near the Spring. I recall Kevin saying that one building in that area will not make the birds at the fountain extinct ...but what of the precedent that it will create, and then there are bound to be others who would be emboldened to pursue one or more of their own even more ambitious projects,(& maybe permission is granted once again), inviting a vicious cycle which would then be difficult to contain. "Hence the Dharna & in same way the opposition of the area being developed into a tourist spot. �Tourist/tourism�draws up pictures of hordes of people with their litter flocking to the Spring, but we dont want that, we want only the original living things there, dont we? �A bit difficult to envisage from the way things are unfolding over the last couple of months, I guess. "Isnt there a middle path then? It is all in the hands of our Saligaokars some of whom make up our Panchayat. For me, conservation, preservation mean "keep safe, keep from harm, retain, maintain, keep alive" - all this applies to what Saligaokars want vis-a-vis the Spring - it was there, it is there & it should be there hereafter - �there is no room for acquisition, construction, development, etc. "Let the Spring alone - to be frequented by Saligaokars, young & old whether to drink the water or bathe in it or just to sit & watch nature & whatever inhabitants choose to live amongst leaves, trees without any concrete being introduced in the area." - Annette D'Souza. Pictures of the area some days ago are here: http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=psaix6r.x7lyx27&x=0&y=-tiofkq Now there is the first floor slab up and it looks even more hideous. When are you deciding to act, Your excellency? Your concern and determination to act decisively came across as genuine. So what or who is keeping you back? The local Saligao and global Goan community that is viewing the verbal and digital pictures of the slow murder of a unique heritage spot, is watching and waiting for you to act. The choice before you is clear: TEMPORARY INJUCNTION or PERMANENT REVOCATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION LICENCE, till the acquisition proceedings and investigations into the Saligao Panchayat's conduct are completed. We have a simple demand: ACT NOW - before the people decide to! More information at: http://salmonafountain.swiki.net Muriel & Mario. -- .................................................... muriel & mario, 4/4 tabravaddo, opp. st. anne's chapel, saligao. bardez. goa. 403511. tel: 0832-278276 / 2409999 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--W-E-B--S-I-T-E--=-=-=-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from Saligaonet | http://www.goacom.com/saligao_tinto/ ============================================================================ * Send e=mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] (NOT [email protected]) * Leave SUBJECT blank <--- Commom Mistake !! * On first line of the BODY of your message, type: subscribe saligaonet YOUR.EMAIL OR unsubscribe saligaonet YOUR.EMAIL Questions/Problems? Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
