Team Herald
PANJIM: Reiterating their opposition to the proposed airport, the residents of Dhangarwada on the Mopa Plateau, on Sunday, protested over the government’s failure to listen to their demands.
“The residents of Varconda, Casarvanem, Chandel, Amberem, Uguem and Mopa in Pernem taluka condemned the government for its “anti-people” and “anti-development” attitude, and “suicidal pursuit” of private profits at the cost of life and livelihood of the citizens and future generations. We denounce the “ignorance” and “arrogance” of those we have elected to serve us, who are instead trying to “crush” and “permanently destroy” our culture, livelihoods and lives in order to serve the vested interests of greedy corporations and rich speculators in land,” alleged Sandip Kambli, secretary, Mopa Vimintal Pidit Xetkari Samiti (MVPXS) in a press release.
“Instead of attempting to understand our issues as promised before the High Court, the Government acts as if we don’t even exist. During these seven years of struggle, we have written on numerous occasions to all the authorities from the Prime Minister to local authorities, but have not received even a single reply or acknowledgment, implying that the Government is “intentionally” and “knowingly” destroying our lives, with no thought or reason. And now we hear that the Prime Minister is going to lay the foundation stone for the Airport in Dona Paula,” he charged.
He further said that some of the people had filed an appeal before the NGT challenging the environmental clearance granted to the project and others had challenged the acquisition of their lands before the Supreme Court. Despite being party to the NGT matter and knowing that large amounts of public funds will be lost if the clearance is revoked, the Government continues spending public funds for the project, displaying its contempt for the law and the people.
Kambli informed that the plateau is the source of livelihood for over 7,000 persons and people beyond “our six villages are dependent on its resources, such as large quantities of drinking and irrigation water, fertility, soil generation, biodiversity, ecological balance, environmental security, rivers, fodder, agriculture, wildlife habitat, firewood, construction material, milk, medicinal plants and number of other services.”
“How can the government destroy the habitat of tens of thousands of wild animals such as monkeys, wild boars, leopards, bisons, pangolins, giant squirrels, porcupines, peacocks, civets, four species of deer and many others while it knows that they will have to move to farms in neighbouring villages, only to be then exterminated as ‘vermin’?” Kambli questioned.
Therefore MVPXS demands that the government considers the facts of the matter and accepts that “our plateau is suitable only for the traditional uses”. They have also demanded to stop interfering with their lands, failing which they would continue and intensify their struggle for justice and to save their lands, communities and future generations.
