MARGAO: Federation of Rainbow Warriors has slammed MoEF for giving Goans “special status” of having to travel to Delhi for environmental justice, while all the other residents of our country can raise environmental concerns in their own regions. 

A recent notification issued by the MoEF has ordered Goans to go to Delhi for NGT matters, though the Pune bench of the NGT, which is much closer, has been addressing Goa’s environmental issues for over five years. 

“Goa is suffering the greatest destruction of environment among all the parts of the country, as is evident from the number of Goan matters being filed at the Pune bench of the NGT. Illegal dredging of Vasco bay, Mopa airport environmental clearance, NH works without environmental impact assessment, violations of CRZ and forest laws are some of the many Goan matters pending before NGT,” Rainbow Warriors said. 

“It is also certain that the proposed expansion of MPT and conversion of our rivers into shipping channels for Jindal, Vedanta, Adani or other corporations shall also be challenged by vigilant citizens. However, instead of moving the bench closer to the litigants in view of the deluge of cases from Goa, MoEF has decided to deny us our fundamental rights to justice. It seems that the destruction of Goa’s environment and violence against our future generations are the only aims of the MoEF and our State Government,” said the Rainbow Warriors.

“Goa Government is continuously trying to destroy our future generations, be it through environmental destruction, or through the massive financial debts they are accruing. Goa Government uses every crooked method available to hasten the destruction, such as their sly attempt to transfer the Mopa matter to Delhi without informing us, which failed due to diligence of the appellants. The transfer of Goa matters to Delhi is another step towards denying our children their right to life, even before they are born,” alleged the green NGO.

Federation of Rainbow Warriors has warned the governments that Goans would not take such violence lying down. “We will take all steps necessary to ensure that the greed of a few corporations will not be allowed to destroy our State, or to make our children environmental refugees, as planned by them,” said Rony Dias, President of Rainbow Warriors. 

“We demand that the governments give up their plans to privatize our rivers for coal/iron ore transportation, to displace our fisher folk, tribals and farmers through mining, real estate and other speculative land use changes, or to destroy Goa for private profit in any other manner, failing which they will have to face the invincible power of the people, yet again,” Dias said.

The Rainbow Warriors have also demanded that environmental justice be made available within the reach of ordinary citizens of Goa.