Much has been written about the proposed airport at Mopa and the disaster that is being thrust upon us by Goans themselves. But much more will surely be written cursing and damning the proponents and protagonists of this project, but definitely and unfortunately too late for any amends and much after many of them and many of us have passed from this world to a hopefully better one.
Many projects that face objections or the wrath of the affected and other people have been foisted on them either by the Government or powerful people, on whom the elected representatives depend for their survival. It is no gainsaying that any project that brings benefits to the government, their functionaries and their henchmen will be pushed through come what may, using all the might at their disposal. Unfortunately, our last, but expensive recourse, the judicial system has also in a few cases not been very kind to the litigants, though it still stands, at times, as the last and powerful hope or weapon for the helpless people fighting the powerful.
Any government that is sincere and values honesty and integrity would always ensure that any massive project, affecting the people of the State and involving thousands of crores, is undertaken with maximum care, involvement of the people and above all with utmost transparency, avoiding suspicions of any kind or charges of corruption or of keeping issues under wraps. This has not happened with Mopa. After having willfully acquired land in a hurry just a month before the new Land Acquisition Act came into force, solely with the sadistic intention of depriving the poor owners of a better deal, the government is now trying to push the project with lightning speed throwing caution, norms and propriety to the winds. The Environment Impact Assessment which ought to have been an exercise carried out with utmost seriousness, care and diligence has been undertaken in such a casual, shoddy and irregular manner that even those who support the project would admit that it has been done in a way that would ensure its acceptance. At the outset, let me remind that the former Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar, in his obsession with Mopa had treated EIA as a mere formality and a fait accompli even before the exercise could be taken up. Let us hope he will not have a similar lackadaisical approach to defence issues. The EIA was a must before land acquisition. Yet, ignoring this mandatory provision, Parrikar went ahead with land acquisition, treating the EIA as an ordinary issue that could be handled by him the way he wished. The hearing of observations and objections on the EIA have been fixed for Sunday Feb 1 and have been entrusted to the Collector of North Goa, Neela Mohannan, who happens to be the wife of PPP Secretary. Obviously there is a conflict of interest, which ought to have been avoided considering that the husband would be interested in seeing the findings through, the project being on PPP basis.
The EIA is, to say the least, a huge fraud, an attempt to cheat the people and an effort to conceal what is most essential and imperative to be divulged. Such an important document has been partly based on the findings of a laboratory entrusted by the Government to conduct a survey of the area. This was done four years back, over a period of last quarter of 2011, thus ignoring the most important monsoon season, when the rich biodiversity comprising flora, fauna and water bodies are at their peak. The villagers of Varkhand who will be severely affected by the project, have already classified the report as “bogus”, which does not address issues of vital importance like the existence of wild animals in the area and on the contrary refers only to domesticated animals like dogs and cats. It also questions the silence of the report on over 30 springs which gush out of the plateau and which are a constant and rich source of water. On the contrary it has ignored that the area is ecologically highly sensitive, with a large forest cover with rare and endemic species of fauna and flora and a number of fresh water springs. The plateau abuts and is a critical part of the Western Ghats, a site protected by UNESCO. The government proposes to use the Tillari dam water for the purposes of airport construction, keeping not only the project but the people of Pernem dependent on neighbouring Maharashtra, whilst destroying the area’s own water resources. The EIA report came in for a severe attack from the renowned environmentalist Prof Madhav Gadgil who has noted glaring and willful omissions aimed at concealing the truth which could jeopardize the prospects of the airport and the greed of politicians.
All these facts should leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that the government is bent upon pushing the project by means which are not only extremely dubious but essentially fraudulent and highly deceptive. It is unfortunate that the people of Pernem and some neighbouring areas are led to believe that the people of South Goa do not wish the development of their area. Let those who feel that the airport would bring in development consult impartial experts and find out whether there is even an iota of truth in these assertions. The only truth about Mopa is that it is the greatest fraud being perpetrated on the people of Goa. Let us all, irrespective of our location rise to ensure that Mopa falls through. In Margao today and tomorrow at the EIA hearing, avoiding any sort of confrontation, let us denounce the traitors who are out to destroy land and our environment.
(The writer is a retired banker)
