Goa is a small State. Its population has grown with the influx of neighbouring labour force and slums have cropped up like mushrooms. Perhaps, to accommodate fresh arrival of such labour to work for the development of Goa, some hill cutting was done; also trees were slashed, thinking that ‘Future generations can take care of themselves ‘. But, ‘Earth felt the wound when sun bathed, moon bathed hills and environment was destroyed; and nature gave sighs of woe as everything seems to have been lost. ‘
In addition to the arrival of workers from bordering States, there is inflow of tourists whose numbers are, several times larger than our State’s population. They come because Goa is a tourist destination and Goans have a blend of Portuguese culture.
Therefore, at times it appears, it becomes difficult for authorities to manage the law and order situation because of this entrance of big bang of people into our tiny state of Golden Goa. Consequently, crime rates worsen. May be, this is because man is created with different biological and psychological nature; besides being born with the basic animosity which in its milder form is hatred and ill-will.
God created nature which is just a complicated law-abiding machine. Analogically, God is the clockmaker and nature the clock. God usually works through natural causes; but sometimes produces effects directly, as in the case of miracles.
Nature like a smart machine starts its ‘Goa Mission’ with rain. When rain drops start falling on trees, they nod a warm welcome and when the dust on them is cleaned with rainwater, they dance the rumba and the samba in the breeze to the tune of thunder and the sporadic illumination of lightning.
In those places where there was water shortage and the taps were running dry, people always thank God for cascading water from their roof tops, free of cost; and thus satisfying the needs with excessive rain water.
When garbage is strewn on the streets and is not cleaned, the work becomes the responsibility of nature, so it usually allows it to makes its way into the gutters and chokes them. It also turns storm water drains to overflow with sewage and its stench to hang in the air. Other nature’s gifts such as springs which have medicinal values get blocked. But people believe that their government will soon restore the springs to their former glory and thus preserve them for our future generation.
Smart rain machine inspires authorities to listen to the voice of the local fishermen about mechanised fishing vessels disturbing them. So, the powers that be, with sympathy and empathy to conserve fish, immediately pull down the curtain of the fishing season by banning fishing for 61 days.
According to the Malthusian Theory of Population, smart nature, from times immemorial, controls population explosion, when inhabitants grow faster than agricultural output causing famine. It reduces the populace below sustainable level with events such as floods, disease, war and earthquakes.
Nature also controls population when it exceeds a small State’s carrying capacity and the law and order deteriorates due to popping up of slums and increase of crimes. Also the swelling inhabitants bring about a rise of accidents on the roads due to drivers smelling of ‘feni’ or, the car becomes a dangerous weapon in their hands, because riders have scant respect for the law. Smart nature’s mission, in such cases, feels, to forcibly reduce residents to its manageable level of the State, if government does not think and take necessary action.
