The recent deluge of excessive rains on short spells taken with the earlier crisis faced by Tamil Nadu of shortage of drinking water is a pointer of things to come as the pattern of climatic variance, is causing havoc with life, property and agricultural produce and output. This in itself is a huge drain on the natural resources of the nation.
This has come to pass on account of unbridled use of cement and steel where projects are executed and at the next moment destroyed paying scant respect to natural wealth or its judicial use. There is neither proper planning nor scientific method of development which also safeguards scarce natural resources like forests, khazans, hills, streams, springs and rivers.
Goa’s destruction was initiated by the ‘Land to the Tiller Act’ which the Bandodkar Government ill advised decision not only destroyed our co-operative system which was systematically built around many years back and the knowledge of water preservation by building bunds where the same water was used for the second crop, made our State an agricultural deficient State.
The comunidade system which was not touched by our ancient rulers prior to Adil Shah and subsequently even by the Portuguese was destroyed by legislation. It is a case of when one gets things free, you don’t acknowledge its value.
This comunidade land was converted and sold indiscriminately by these new so called land owners and others kept it fallow. Further the government interference and acquisition for industrial use and transferring the same to the industries have put the Comunidade health in the ICU. Our khazans are our heritage and instead of fighting to preserve there is clamour to destroy them. A case to point out is that of Colva Lake, where a proposal to convert it to a playing ground is being debated. It is shameful that the villagers instead of preserving the khazans are out to destroy whatever is left. A writer in one of the columns tried to justify that it is not a lake and it is dry. May be that person was sleep-walking that road in his youth or was not even born.
During the ‘Fama’ we could see water on both sides of the road, it was really a beautiful sight. Bunds used to be built, water was collected. Now it is kept dry and water is not allowed to accumulate and thus destroyed.
The panchayat has informed that a consultant has been appointed to study. Do these outside consultants understand our ecosystem and the history of khazans land? Instead of fighting for a playground in a fragile place I would ask if the panchayat has prepared the biodiversity report of the village enumerating all the fauna and flora. If I am not mistaken only the village of Curtorim has done so. The rest are sleeping and will cry when everything has been destroyed.
Recently Italy’s PRASECCO Hills have become UNESCO World heritage site and our unique heritage that is khazans, we are clamouring to destroy further. But in India it is a free for all. Jeeps on Dudhsagar, rivers polluted with filth, sewage, industrial effluents, etc. All God given wealth is lost. Panjim is a case where there is water everywhere but not a drop to drink. Our greed has reached monstrous proportions and we are beyond saving.
