Reeking Local Governance
Tourism related illegalities and violations along Goa’s coastal stretch have reached such a nadir that the National Green Tribunal’s Principal Bench read out the riot act to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority on Wednesday to act against CRZ violations under the Environment Protection Act.
It is clear that tourism related projects are mushrooming all along the coastal belt in active connivance with local body representatives and other State government authorities which sanction these projects.
The GCZMA and Forest officials’ report, which lists 10 hotels and one private structure all of which are in the 200 metre No-Development Zone and have walls in the inter-tidal zone in Mandrem and Ashvem, show that the violations make a mockery of the law of the land. This unfortunately is only the tip of the proverbial reeking tourism iceberg. The greed to milk windfall from tourism has seeped into the entrails of both local and migrant entrepreneurship, overwhelming traditional values, riding on the superstructure of the system of local governance which has brought corruption to the doorsteps of villages.
The tall talk about liberal democracy, devolution of powers and empowering the grassroots is facing its toughest test in this socio-economic context. Coastal tourism has turned into a huge industry, churning out pots of money from illicit businesses and keeping the local bodies in good humour, with or without the connivance of the local MLAs. This cocktail ranges from drugs, illicit alcohol, sleaze rackets, betting and spot fixing, theft, crime and even murders, giving one the impression that “clean tourism” is just a mirage. Though all these aspects come under the complex web of home department, excise, police and local representatives, sarpanchas and panchas should act against illegalities and if needed seek the help of the State government in rooting out violations.
Most of these activities take place in select beach locations known to an equally select few. Resorts are disguised as huts, covered with tarpaulin and other local material to evade any suspicion. The Arambol-Mandrem-Ashvem-Morjim belt is populated with such structures destroying sand dunes and beach vegetation which are a barrier against tidal waves. The connivance is such that even when GCZMA had previously identified and warned these operators, these structures are not only standing but have been extended, with compound walls even touching the waters. Resorts, spas, restaurant, huts, night clubs, discos with high-intensity lighting and high-decibel music leave no chance for other species such as sea turtles and tiny beach life to survive.
It is a comment on the failure of governance in curbing these illegalities right from the State to the local level that the court had to intervene. In many of these cases sarpanchas, panchas or ZP members themselves have erected these huts, hotels and structures which are legalized and operated either by relatives or leased out to foreigners or entrepreneurs from other States. In some cases it is the small-time politicians from neighbouring States who take over these structures and lure their “guests” using Brand Goa to make money or seek favours. Besides these there are houses which operate as commercial establishment, hotels and restaurants. South Goa too is not free from these violations right from Colva, Benaulim, Cavelossim, Agonda to Palolem.
The problem with regulatory governance is the proliferation of government bodies, departments and elected representatives which does not allow, assign and fix responsibilities on individuals. Though ideally, these illegalities should have been dealt with by local bodies and district planning committees with technical personnel lent by the State government, there is a serious question mark on both the capacity and integrity of local bodies to ensure that such violations do not take place. Gram sabhas themselves are split down the middle over individual projects with sometimes even ruling groups unseated on these issues given the money power used. Local government structures have to reclaim public faith by stemming the rot and coming clean on all illegal structures especially those along the coast whilst ensuring that those with all necessary permissions are not harassed and blackmailed.
