Mopa airport is becoming a huge scam. About 50 percent of affected families have refused the meagre compensation that is being given to them. For comparison sake, a square metre of land in Panjim is valued at between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. Why should the locals who are being displaced accept less than say Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 per square metre? They are losing their land and occupation, basically farming, once and for all. Besides, being a hot-spot of biodiversity of diverse flora and fauna, the Mopa plateau has all the required natural amenities which is self-sustaining for the about 7,000 to 8,000 locals who are being displaced. The Mopa plateau is a self-sufficient natural source of all the facilities that are required for a healthy and robust living definitely better than man-made facilities. Besides being an extension of the Western Ghats area in Goa, it is a United Nations conservation area. The loot and plunder has started gaining alarming proportions with the revelation that Rs 25 crore has been spent on rehabilitation of 14 families. Each of these houses will not cost more than Rs 50 lakh which means that the 14 houses should have cost at the most Rs 7 crore. Whom is the government trying to fool? The other aspect is the wanton felling of about 54,676 trees in the beautiful Mopa plateau, under cover and secrecy to fast track this project against the wishes of the people. The people of Mopa are not willing to part with their land and the government through the Mopa Development Act, 2018 and by making the area restricted under the Secrets Act for two years is trying to coerce clandestinely adamant locals out of their land by force and using undemocratic and unacceptable ways, hitherto never done in the history of Goa. The people of Mopa who are unwilling to accept the compensation should begin a consistent movement to protect their natural habitat. They should be willing to risk their lives and even become martyrs so that their precious land, habitat and occupation is protected. Importantly, while the United Nations Climate Conference is underway in Katowice, Poland for Goa, restoration of the Mopa plateau to its pristine glory is a significant aspect of Goa’s action to fight global warming and climate change which is having catastrophic consequences in the world already.
Mopa being thrust forcibly on locals
