we are digging our own graves

Unlike other States of India, Goa’s main occupation was agriculture which was carried on a large scale in the past many years, but side by side fishing and tourism industries also started developing. When iron was found the mining industry started, wherein the iron ore was extracted and exported to foreign countries and Goa also became a foreign exchange earner like many States of India. Lot of people were employed in different companies and some of them started their own business of lending their trucks to these companies.

All went on well till it was found that some of the companies were carrying on the mining without proper documentation and licence. The government appointed a commission which was known as the Shah Commission, who after going through the complete procedure, submitted their report and said the mining is done illegally and without proper planning which in turn will have bad effect on the nature as a result the mining has to stop. Many people lost their job as the companies laid them off and were unemployed. As per the commission finding the main culprit was the government, because the report found many of our ministers were involved in this mining and were taking bribes in order to remain in power, for their selfish motive and gains without even thinking about the people who have elected them. As a result mining was shut down.

After mining the tourism industry was the second to earn foreign exchange but for the last few years this industry is also going through severe problems and difficulties and all is on account of the government whose ministers go on foreign tours in the name of promoting tourism, have a merry time but fail to get the desired result. They make tall promises but fail to keep them. The current tourist season in Goa is in a crisis and by all indication, it is only set in a spiral downhill. As per the president of Travel and Tourism Association Goa (TTAG) Savio Messias the percentage of tourists coming to Goa is gone down to about 50% and the main reason in the drop are the soaring prices on accommodation, food, security and transport. British tourists who were much sought are finding their quiet unaffordable places disappearing.

Another reason is tourist safety, after the alleged murder of Scarlett Keeling a few years back, the recent rape and murder of Daniellla McLaughlin and many in between, the reputation of Goa as a safe destination has taken a hit. Both tourists and the stakeholders in Goa say the government has done precious little to address this issue and today tourism has no direction. It has become a free for all, the Government’s plans are totally misplaced, and the master plan that they are talking about smells industrialisation. A wake-up call to all Goans to do something to save this industry before it is too late. The damage is already done by our corrupt MLAs and ministers by digging their own graves and leaving us and our posterity like orphans.