MINING NEEDS TO BE PHASED OUT: In a tête-à-tête with Onilda Fernandes, Wendell Rodricks voices his protest against mining companies, which are ravaging the distant village of Colamb in search of wealth, and tells her that he has not crossed swords with all mine owners.
You publicly announced that henceforth you would neither entertain nor hang out with politicians or corporate honchos whose mining firms were wrecking the environment. Could you elaborate? I spoke with reference to the Colamb illage and the marauding mining companies. Already one spring of water has been destroyed there, something which was created by God. Water is needed to cultivate fields, as a village survives on farming 365 days a year. Apart from this, sometime back, an 85 year old woman was sent to jail for protesting against the mining activity. Thanks to the huge generators in the fields and mining trucks on the roads, villagers are now deprived of their sleep as well. And through it all, the government is protecting the perpetrators of this crime. Would it be fair to put an end to all mining activity? After all, many depend on it for their livelihood. It would be unfair to abruptly stop all mining activity. Mining has been a means of livelihood to industrialists as well as the common man for a long time now. However, it has now become a problem to our locals. I don't think anybody has the right to give our Goans sleepless nights or employ outsiders who speak a foreign mother tongue that our locals find difficult to converse with. I have no personal axe to grind with the Chief Minister or Auduth Timblo. But they cannot continue persecuting people to gain personal wealth. Mining has to gradually phase out. It may take 5 or 10 years but it cannot be allowed to destroy the existing eco system. Will a boycott of the authorities help? I do not know. It may sound aggressive, but I would like to use peaceful means to protect Goans. I implore people who have money or the ear of the government, to do pujas and pray to goddesses like Saraswati so that wisdom is bestowed on miners and they stop ruining people's lives. While praying to lord Ganesh to remove all obstacles, these people should realize that they themselves are the obstacles. Its time industrialists like Fomento and Timblo take a stand andthink about people's welfare. What about the ancillaries that depend on this sector, like truck owners, garages, small restaurants etc? What will happen to them if mining is stopped? All are in debt, so that question doesn't even arise. Besides, they can always move onto other means of sustenance. We too should look at other areas of revenue. At present, our focus should be on the booming sector, that is, the tourism industry. What are we going to show our tourists, the ugly mines or a pristine Goa? You have announced a personal boycott of politicians, but these politicians are also representatives of the people, so, wouldn't it be easier to work with them? I don't protest against all politicians. There are good as well as bad politicians. Mathany Saldanha is a very good politician. Some industrialists too are conscientious. I am against anybody who is against the people of Goa. It breaks my heart that people are forced to approach me, just because I am a famous person. They should be able to go to the government or the police. Unfortunately here, politicians control the police. Police too take the side of the rich. Would this move of yours affect your business connections? How can it? Politicians are not my clients. Neither do I depend on them nor do they lean on me. According to me they lead a very boring, corrupt existence. I, on the other hand lead a glamorous life with film stars and models. I will continue to stand up for what I believe. What about the Salgaonkar owned Goa Marriott Resort, where you haveyour designer store? They (Salgaonkars) have no connection with Colamb at the moment. But if it comes down to moving my shop, that is really not a difficult option for me. Will you turn your back on the government completely? I have always been available to the state when it required my help, whether it was calling a dignitary for IFFI or designing police uniforms. In this particular case, I have gone peacefully and spoken to the DGP and chief secretary but to no avail. I don't see why people do pujas for their family's benefit when they are destroying the lives of so many others families. ------------------ The interview above appeared in Gomantak Times on 22nd December 2009 =============