CLEOFATO ALMEIDA COUTINHO
After a sustained move ment, the government was forced to shift the Unity Mall and the Pra shasan stambh to a differ ent site in deference to ‘the sentiments and emotions’ of the villagers, though the mapping of wetland area and the zone of influence of the ‘Toyyar lake’ does not affect the site where these two projects were to come. Chimbelkars follow ing Xashtikars?! In Salcete, those who now travel for Vailankanni pilgrimage are accused of double stand ards of opposing the Konkan Railway route (they only opposed the route through densely populated villages). Those questioning the cut ting of trees in the dense for est area for electricity lines are dubbed as opponents of progress. There is opposi tion to land acquisition even in the hinterland for nation al projects like the IIT. Film city is opposed in villages of new conquests. People op pose widening of the railway track for coal transportation and even the new Borim bridge. Infrastructure develop ment can trigger econom ic growth through trade, business and employment. Then why are infrastructure projects opposed by locals? Development projects and particularly infrastructure projects which are symbols of state power have always been paradoxical. In many cases, they bring in demo graphic changes or destroy the environment beyond repair or there is an angle of financial propriety or unjust enrichment of those in power. Natural resourc es and the people comprise the State. Development must touch the majority and not benefit few. In Nicobar, a 75,000 crore Greater Nicobar Develop ment Project is set to wipe out the vulnerable Shompen tribe with a staggering 15% of the island trees being marked for felling and the globally unique rain forest eco system is almost getting wiped out. The mining in the Aravalli range would cre ate an irreversible damage to the eco system. Aravallis are called the green lungs of North India protecting the Delhi NCR by trapping the dust from the Thar desert. The type of development happening in Goa is part of the same trajectory- commer cial exploitation for mining or real estate. There the ques tion is what makes a moun tain, here we question what makes a hill! When State and business interests get aligned, environment becomes a casualty. Except the NGOs and activists, the ruling elite does not find it pertinent to question the indiscriminate destruction of land, ecology and environment. The government, we are told, is elected to decide what is good for the people and the government pro poses such development paradigms in the public in terest. Traditionally courts have withstood the execu tive-business houses nexus by expanding constitutional interpretation on environ mental issues. The public trust doctrine has been the mainstay of indiscriminate private exploitation of natu ral resources Even for infrastructure projects, the most crucial el ement is public trust. There may not be legal or adminis trative issues but it is a mor al imperative that the legit imacy of any infrastructure project must pass the fire of public approvals. Most of the projects suffer from lack of transparency, accountability and public consent. Kathleen Sebelius is spot on when she says ‘the essence of good governance is trust.’ Public trust is the foundation that sustains the legitimacy of the state policy. The locals must have a say in shaping their future and destiny. It is on this principle that the people from Chimbel fought for and succeeded. Whether it is develop ment projects or land, water, hills and mines are natural resources held by the state in trust for the people and cannot be frittered away for private exploitation. Fritter ing away of natural resourc es for private gain is clearly demonstrated in the Nico bar and the Aravalli’s whose life supporting ecological systems are being disman tled for private gain under the guise of national inter est. Those questioning the government only demand a balance of economics and ecological preservation so that a slice of the nature and environment is also kept for future generation. In development paradigm, it is important to see what is being developed? What is at stake? Who gains and who loses? When traditional economy based on fishing an agricultural system gal loped into residential and guest house as to tourism boomed in Maldives, the locals benefited. But when Maldives transitioned into resort tourism, guest hous es were seen as threat to investment. Island grabbing marked the new develop ment Paradigm. With de velopers and Oligarchs got what they wanted in the beautiful island of pristine beaches free of locals. That is type of development pro posed by the government is under attack in Goa. The Pernem taluka in Goa is fast developing into a tourism hub with the new airport and it’s beaches. But who is benefiting from that kind of development? The new airport and the real estate boom have failed to deliver sufficient good qual ity employment with public frustration and anger is on predictable lines. No doubt, a new class of very vocal demagogues from the real estate industry has come up to control the political activ ity besides social and eco nomic activity. When it comes to state infrastructure projects, there is always a controver sy revealing the darker side of such development. Alle gations of acquiring land next to project sites, by the powerful has plagued the acquisition of land for High ways, Mopa Airport and the Unity Mall. How much land an IIT require or in digital times are film cities at all re quired are questions never answered. Erosion of public trust in governance has led to oppo sition to almost every pro ject. The elected government is not seen as doing anything ethical. Even the electrici ty smart meters are mired in controversy. It is greater transparency that can build public confidence. Citizens must have confidence that the public projects and are built ethically and natural resources are used transpar ently. Financial misconduct and ecological harm are are as that have to be addressed by the government in build ing public trust. (The writer is a Sr. Advocate and a political thinker)
