It was quite shocking but not surprising to learn that Bio-Diversity Board Member Secretary Dr Nitin Sawant is on his way out. It is not shocking because Dr Sawant is an upright, honest, qualified and disciplined officer, who does understand the consequences of manmade disasters and who has worked hard according to his conscience, to safeguard the interests of Goans at large, especially the conservation of marine life.
As far as the marina at Sancoale is concerned, a few months ago Sancoale Panchayat held two Gram Sabhas, the last being a special Gram Sabha, solely to reject the proposal and on both occasions, Environment and Forests Minister and Dr Sawant were invited and addressed the crowd and explained the consequences that would follow if the project went ahead. Saldanha had explained that the Investment Promotion Board had only granted ‘in principle’ approval and it was subject to all approvals granted by the concerned authorities. When I asked her whether the authorities were local or central government she had replied that it was the local government, to which I had raised my doubts given that the Parsekar government is bent on proceeding with this project.
We are boasting that India is the second largest democracy, (of course by population) and we believe our governments are of the people, by the people and for the people but this is only on paper. We do not want upright government servants but only ‘yes men’ and who will bend their knees before their bosses even if the latter are wrong.
Keep up your good work Dr Sawant, we are with you and Goans and Goa will never forget your services. It is not only Sancoalcars but all the people who will be affected by this Marina, from Vasco, Bogmallo-Issorcim-Chicolna, Chicalim-Dabolim, San Jacinto Island, Sancoale, Cortalim-Quelossim, Nagoa-Verna, Velsao-Pale-Cansaulim, who will be with you and hopefully also Vishnu Wagh and his constituents from Nausi.
During the meeting held in Sancoale recently, someone from the crowd demanded to know, “Who is this trying to force marina on us, is it Ali-Baba?” And someone else asked: “And who is helping us to fight this evil project?” The quick reply from another local was: “She is Ali-na Bai!”
