Some weeks ago, the Superintendent of Police belonging to the Narcotic Control Bureau, was beaten up by a mob, at a beach shack at Arambol, in the Pernem taluka of Goa. This made headlines news in local newspapers but the business of illicit drug trade and sophisticated prostitution is now still going on as usual.
All across the coastal Goa be it in Anjuna, Chapora, Morjim, Ashwem, Vagator, Baga right down South Goa up to Polem in Canacona Taluka, narcotic trade and prostitution are a very lucrative trade with a significant section of the local population directly and even indirectly involved in this high end business, paid for by the drug lords both for directly involving themselves in this activity, or even for looking the other way. The NCB has rightly initiated action but it still has to go a long way to meet success in the future. The Narcotic Control Squad had to conduct “a surprise raid”, as Goan politicians, police and resident locals work as a team in the narcotic trade on Goan beaches. However, this autonomous agency, should now learn a lesson and be prepared better for the raid, as the drug menace in Goa is deeply rooted. Narcotic control measures taken in Goa is a like a “fence which is eating the crop”.
The CM of Goa, made a significant statement some days ago, which was widely reported in the press, which Goans have either taken with the pinch of salt or afforded deaf ears. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar declared that he was prepared to give up his life in the bid to eradicate the menace of drugs. Goans must understand, as Parrikar has, that the drug menace in Goa has been today deeply rooted. Needless to mention, the two MLAs holding powerful positions of authority in the State Government, Vinod Palyekar and Michael Lobo are crying foul about the drug and prostitution menace in their respective constituencies of Siolim and Calangute and are also crying foul that the drug lords are threatening them for meddling in their illicit trade. The CM, with all authority under his command is telling his Ministers, Government officials and the public at large, to “avoid shouting” about the narcotic trade or prostitution in Goa and to feed him or his police department with specific names of those drug lords dealing in this drug business, of whom he is not afraid to lay down his life.
If the government is unable to eradicate this grave social ailment of drugs and women trafficking, can it expect the common man to come out with names of those running this lucrative business?
Sadly after Manohar Parrikar made the statement and threatened those making sane noises of drug problems in Goan society to come with specific proofs, everything is quiet and hunky dory. The dirt is now under wraps or swept under the carpet, as the malignancy of drugs is slowly killing Goan culture, since we collectively fail to control or wipe off the casino gambling trade, unscientific tourism and haphazard development promoted by the government of the day. To expect the MOPA airport with the 112 million tourist arrivals in Goa and the casino industry with non Goans in service to help reduce the ills of the hospitality industry is like expecting the moon, if not the sun into your plate. We in Goa are getting used to weird and silly policies from those entrusted upon; the governance of Goa.
We as people in unison should have revolted to establish, the NGT court in Goa instead of allowing us to seek justice by going to New Delhi as per the whims and fancy of those who govern us. Is it prudent and wise to have 3 bridges in a single place close to one another? A security lapse, an enemy target or a natural accident or disaster on Mandovi river can target all the three bridges in “One Go”.
We as Goans are not looking at Goa beyond ourselves – enjoy, be merry, drink, dance and die, forget Goa for the future generation; carnivals, shigmos, cultural events, festivities, casino gambling has become a part of us as there is a patron saint, or a birthday bash in some part across Goa. With time we have lost sense that cleanliness is next to godliness; work is worship and honesty is the best policy. These are no more virtues in Goa where exploitation of nature and its people continue.
There is the garbage gauntlet, the challenges of river pollution, diminishing greenery with mushrooming grey concrete jungles, plunder of our mineral resources, ushering in of the coal dust pollution adding on to the menace of drugs, drinks and damsels not only from Nepal or the North East but also from Ukraine etc. too.
We have to understand that the challenge to keep Goa sustainable for Eternity is daunting and gruesome but some amongst us should bell the cat. History has shown that immortal heroes are thrown amongst us by nature according to the need or prevailing time and circumstances. The one man who can liberate the society or the nation. The examples of Jesus Christ, Gandhiji, Martin Luther or Nelson Mandela just come to mind amongst others.
Goa today is on the cross roads of its destiny. Illegal mining, brazen cutting of our hills, destruction of our forests, marginalisation of wild life and terming them as vermins, diminishing biodiversity both in marine and terrestrial environment. The widening of the gap between the rich and the poor, by exploiting labour using caste and class distinctions are also degrading and decaying our society, signalling perhaps a saviour for Goa is now overdue.
The current political dispensation with vested interest in command has failed us miserably. Across political parties, there is no political ideology or philosophy but an ambition to grab power, as of today. The religious institutions, too have failed to perform. A revolution in Goa seems to be in sight but the timing is still unclear as the cancer of Goa destruction is spreading fast and Goa is leaderless as of now.
