FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024
The heat wave that gripped Goa in April, not the hottest month of the State, besides being the first of its kind was also a harbinger of tougher days ahead only because we Goans have become avaricious and also abusive to nature.
Nature has a carrying capacity akin to our ability to endure, but Goans and those governing Goa, have over taxed nature to an extent that it is now retching. Thanks to the clamour to own a slice of this Pearl of the Orient, Goans are not only selling their land left, right and centre, but also permitting it to be misused while ignoring traditions and natural practices of yore.
April saw a lot of disturbing signs, indicating that all is not well. This is when wild berries - locally called kandas, churnas, chewrans, etc, would be available aplenty and students commenced their summer vacations by scouting the hillocks for them. This year one can barely see these berries.
April also saw the king of fruits, mango, not only on trees but also on Goan streets. However, this year there is a drastic drop in its visibility due to a poor yield. Goans did not see traditional mangoes like mankurad or the ghottam (that were just sucked) and even the pochor which were used to prepare pickles.
In another worrisome development, Goa has witnessed a drastic drop in cashew production. After having successfully obtained the GI tag for Goan cashew feni, this drop means this globally famous drink will be in short supply. This summer will be different as Goans will not get their favourite drink, the much relished urrack.
That within 15 days, eight lakh square metres of land was converted to settlement only to satisfy the neo riche present day invaders from affluent Northern States of India, is the reason for these changes. What is particularly galling is that what 2,80,000 sq mts of land converted to settlement was used for before, is not specified.
How can one expect mangoes and cashews when 2,72,000 sq mts of orchard land where they grow is converted to construct housing colonies? How can one expect traditional wild berries when an area of 1,12,000 sq mts of natural cover has been converted to construct mansions and palatial bungalows for the neo riche? How can one expect summer treasures like watermelons, leafy vegetables and even tubers to be available when 1,04,000 sq mts of agricultural land has been converted to settlement zone?
Pilerne Marra, where there was an increase of 22 per cent in settlement zone, bears testimony to how this amendment is misused. Real estate firms, and not Goans, corrected land use here where even catchment area of Saulem lake, which is declared a wetland, was converted. Shockingly, this change was done 12 days after the World Wetland Day was celebrated there on February 2 this year! Given the fact that till date the person who dried Bondvol wetland soon after monsoon has not been identified, exposes how complacent the authorities are in protecting the environment.
Actually, we Goans are to be blamed because we allow these illegalities without even raising a whimper, leave alone shout against them!
