THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The ‘Save Mollem Campaign’- Goan youth-driven movement against the three linear projects, passing through the protected wilds of Mollem, has been recognised for the ‘Sanctuary Wildlife Service Awards 2021’ by India’s leading wildlife and conservation magazine Sanctuary Asia.
The Sanctuary Wildlife Awards by the Sanctuary Nature Foundation were instituted to annually honour India's Earth Heroes.
While declaring the Award, the organisers said that ‘movement teaches us that the best environmental defense strategies are home-brewed and imbued with joy, love and dogged resilience’.
The Save Mollem Campaign, launched in June 2020, is a citizen’s movement to raise its voices against the three alleged destructive projects – double tracking of railway line, Tamnar power project and national highway expansion – passing through the Mollem National Park and the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
“The Amche Mollem campaign is an example of the power of the collective that requires continued support,” the organizers said.
Briefing about the movement, the Sanctuary Asia mentioned that shortly after the world went into lockdown on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, Goa’s citizens were dismayed to learn of hasty virtual clearances accorded to three linear infrastructure projects – a railway line, a transmission line and a highway – all cutting through the forests of the Mollem National Park, which along with the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary are key to the water security and cultural origins of the life-loving people of Goa.
“Ordinary Goans got together to resist the destruction – students, doctors, veterinarians, lawyers, fisherfolks, architects, hoteliers, small business owners, teachers, farmers, artists, and scientists. Petitions and online talks highlighting the value of Mollem continue to be organised. Young Goa has risen as one to attend public hearings, rallies and flash mobs. Movingly, creative solidarity emerged from strangers. Films, songs, stories and art amplify the movement,” they said.
Popular support for Amche Mollem keeps growing, the organizers added.
Following public outcry and series of complaints, the Supreme Court appointed Centrally Empowered Committee, which inspected the three project sites in January, ordered a re-examination of all three projects, suggesting revoking one and modifying two.
Thanking the organizers for their recognition, the Save Mollem Campaign said that the most moving aspect of the campaign was the outpouring of creative solidarity that emerged from strangers. “Films, songs, stories and art amplified the movement, including times when on-ground meetings were impossible,” they said.
“This award is for each one of us who raised our voices for Amche Mollem. We are all winners,” they said further.
