POINGUINIM: Social welfare organisations and environmentalists held a meeting at Shubam’s hall, Canacona, on Thursday to discuss the vermin issue, which has become a hot topic in Goa.
The talks were started by Lourence Barreto, an active member of the Lions Club of Canacona and other social welfare organizations. He stated, “Vermin are a part of the nature and it is we who have allowed them to intrude in our fields and dwelling places because we do not maintain hygiene. The so-called vermin are lured by us in our territory.”
Wilson Fernandes, who runs a hotel in the dense forest region of Karmal Ghat in Canacona, stated that the ‘vermin’ are not destructive, but protective. He also said that he had seen many peacocks, wild boar and other animals, and a shout turned them away from his property. He added, “Why guns to shoot them down when my workers and I shoo them away with our vocal chords?”
He also narrated how whenever he played soft music for the guests at his eatery, birds of many species come to his courtyard, which is incidentally named ‘Shaan’, meaning peace.
Govind Gaonkar of Karvem, Gaondongrem, disliked the statement of Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar and said that they treat the peacock as Saraswati (the female god). He also said that Tawadkar’s decision to term the peacock as vermin was making them question how the government would rule the State. He added that most politicians are vermin and that the people should be given tranquilizers to maim and silence them.
The debate lasted for over three hours and all present unanimously resolved to protect nature and to take the government to task. They also pleaded with those present to be mediators in the court of law in their crusade to protect the environment.
