R Fernandes
That there is no planning in the towns/villages with haphazard and ugly constructions despite having Panjim of old as an example? That even strife torn Colombo is better planned and architects from there cautioned Goa on the same in the 80’s? That massive constructions were allowed all over Goa without a sewerage treatment plant to treat the waste? That restaurants, two and 4-wheeler sales and service outlets operate adjacent to National Highways? That the Government cannot stop even illegal hill cutting? That every year illegal constructions on all lands are going on getting regularised?
That massive illegal mining has robbed the State of thousands of crores? That there is a proliferation of mining dependent people -dependent by way of hiring out trucks, heavy earth moving machinery, barges, etc, all procured by availing loans and having returns way beyond decent profits? That loans have also been taken by these people on BMW’s and the like?
That drugs have now reached non-coastal places like Ponda, and that only ganja is being publicly shown as the only drug sold in Goa? That the Government regularly states that there is no drug problem in Goa?
What is the common factor here? The stakeholder in all such activities is the politician. It is illegal profits to certain politician sympathetic businessmen. The guise used is the politician is helping the local citizen. If so, then why do we see no help to protect the citizens’ health due to coal transportation? No help to protect the rivers from being handed over to businessmen to further open marinas? No help to protect our water bodies since the last 40 years. No help in upgrading the water treatment plants to remove manganese due to illegal dumping of rejects on illegally occupied land. It is no wonder that these key stakeholders will do anything to ‘sustain’ their income even subverting the SC ruling. Why were the mining leases hastily renewed in the manner done?
Ever wonder what is the benefit Goa gets from all these business propositions? Taxes, yes. Proportionate to the income? No. In all these businesses, the money is shared between the businessmen and politicians and Goa gets peanuts with a rider. The rider being, when the businesses finally run out- and run out they will as they are not run on a sustainable basis the Government will be left holding the bag. This will be the only time when the Government acknowledges that the Government is of the people because ‘people’ will pay off the ‘other’ stakeholders with their money non-related to these businesses. Like they did when mining was last stopped.
Let each politician tell the public that they or their immediate family do not have any stake in the mining business. Whether in the mining leases, trucks, earth moving machinery, barges, ship yards, etc. That they will have no stakes in the projects that come up in the rivers that have been nationalised and that no businessmen will be ‘favoured’ in these opportunities. Like Ambanis/Adanis and their in-laws in Goa.
Think, don’t wonder.
