Is it the casino menace, or the rampant deforestation and the CRZ violations over river banks? It is the mushrooming of polluting chemical industries or the filling up of low lying areas? Or is it Mhadei Water Tribunal Award that is killing Mandovi? Or is it all of these killing Mandovi?

It does not require rocket science knowledge to understand and accept the recent debacles faced by those ferociously and vociferously fighting for the protection of Mhadei waters and the Goan ecosystem and environment; as well as National Green Tribunal awarding a green signal, for the construction of the Green field Airport, at Mopa.

 Both these disasters in the waiting for Goa, is due to the callous manner the intricate details of ecosystem and its adverse impacts were placed before the learned judges. Sadly, Goa could not have got better judgments than it did, as dynamics of genetic biodiversity, impacts of climate change, the salient features of physico-chemical changes due to tides, currents, global warming, monsoons, summer heat etc. play an important role in the succession of species, food chain and the nutrient web; thus the understandings of the intricacies involved were essential, as man today interacts with nature for his livelihood needs, economic advancements as well as his basic survival too. It is imperative for the courts to see Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment Reports backed by scientific data before offering a studied opinion. 

Anyone can break a door, but it requires a good carpenter to build one. A butcher surely can cut flesh, but he cannot be called upon to perform the duties of a surgeon. In short Goa’s arguments fell far below par, to convince the Tribunal, and, Goan cause for environment protection, fell apart due to paucity of scientific data which was placed before the relevant courts in Question. 

Research scientists were never involved in solving problems of environment the case for Goa. Leaving the addressing of the disasters of MOPA-airport for yet another easy, I will only venture to question the successive governments in Goa, as to what worthwhile was done by the state of Goa, to first understand the issues it placed before the Mhadei-Water Dispute Tribunal. Except for garnering satisfaction that the people of Goa paid generously over Rs 7 crore to lawyers representing Goa; and other Rs 15 crore for its administration, Goa did precious nothing our lawyers without a shred of scientific research evidence; only at best, did kite flying and dishing out hypothetical environmental impacts on Goa, without any concrete research findings. As advocates are not scientists their appeals before the learned judges fell flat. 

Since 1970’s the planners, administrators, engineers and researchers in Karnataka have been both conducting experimental and theoretical studies; backed by scientific data. Moving slowly and steadily Karnataka was addressing the questions before them; water needs for the population of Karnataka cities, electricity generation and power, the need for water diversion to sustain farming, horticulture, animal husbandry and genetic biodiversity. The teaching and research institutes in Karnataka, worked on projects, relevant to the society there, as well as their ecosystem and environment protection.

We have seen only college or school teachers in Goa fighting case for Goa’s water needs but without solid scientific evidences published in refreed-journals, but presentations made at conferences, it didn’t convince the Tribunal judges. The learned tribunals do not go by theoretical submissions but only accept hard research findings. 

From 1995 onwards to date no scientific data was generated in Goa. There are various factors that would be adversely affected due to diversion of water by Karnataka. For instance, due to reduced flow of water, there would be ingress of saline waters into the Mandovi, moving upstream. The rise in salinity would have adverse effects on physiology on marine fauna as well as marine flora. 

As a scientist, I not only must hypothesise this calamity but conduct experimental work, involving doctoral, post-doctoral; research fellows and post graduate students to conduct at least four years of continuous studies, involving fish. Integrated research at University level was absent in Goa and is still so. Experienced and retired Professors are rendered useless, only in Goa, as they suffer from lack of laboratory facilities. 

The Goan lawyers and the Goan Ministers including our Chief Minister feel happy that the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal had offered justice to Goa Ironically: What better can Goa expect! 

Just as a failed student, who secured a few marks for his answer feels relieved and happy, that the teacher has given marks, since he secured the marks without any studies, our ministers, government officials and the lawyers representing Goa are elated and happy that the Mhadei Tribunal at least has given us some crumbs to sustain Goa’s water needs for the moment.

In Goa, the Parrikar government has stifled research. Only government and there is no governance. Recently the Green Tribunal awarded the GSPCB and the Goa government a compensation of nearly Rs 1 crore, by directing the polluting industry to pay for the pollution it caused by the oil spills. 

Interestingly, the scientists at GSPCB, the lawyers and myself as a consultant worked together in a scientific manner and placed our research findings before the Honourable Learned Judges who were extremely sensitive to environmental issues and causes.

 Will the Goans ever learn and act accordingly is a million dollar question?  

(Joe D’Souza is a scientist and a former Goa University professor)