The Centre’s decision to approve DRP in Kalasa Bandura Project will have a catastrophic effect on Goa’s biodiversity, soil, the water content of Mandovi, as well as underground water will diminish so much that, villages in North Goa will face hardship and lead to desertification of our Green Goa. It will lead to total destruction of our green heritage which we cherish. No amount of so called development can replenish what nature has gifted us. The indiscriminate development of tourism projects may not last long. No one will want to come to Goa which will not offer anything worthwhile. It is like killing the Golden Goose. In spite of glaring instances by way of environmental changes and destruction taking place, our leaders turn a blind eye to safeguard our “Pearl of the East”. Selfishness, power and greed are their only aim. Nothing moves them and our CM obeys only his masters and is not concerned about our local issues. We had good hearted and selfless leaders like Dr Jack Sequeira, Dayanand Bandodkar, Purushottam Kakodkar, etc. Today, we do not find leaders with such character.
Goans fought to save our Golden Goa, through Opinion Poll, when young and the old marched the streets, to educate the voters, but now, all are selfish.
There was a proposal at the time of Opinion Poll to merge the Konkani speaking areas with Goa, but at that time Goa did not want to disturb the neighbours. Karnataka extended full support to Goa to remain separate, although Maharashtra wanted us to merge with them, they have not hurt us so much as Karnataka is doing. Karnataka has problems with surrounding States with water disputes and with Maharashtra on border disputes.
We are negotiating with them gracefully through tribunals, courts etc. It’s time to get on to the offensive. They do not understand decent people like the Goans. Karnataka and Maharashtra have their water dispute in the Supreme Court. Goa should file a petition and ask the Supreme Court to attach to their dispute, and put claim to merge Konkani speaking areas from Karwar to Sawantwadi going round the Ghats at least 80 to 100 kms, so that Goa can safely have possession of all the tributaries and other green areas in our jurisdiction. This way we can not only breathe safely but also have Mhadei and its peripherals and also culturally integrate with our Konkani speaking people.
Though the Konkani speaking people were not part of us for over five centuries, their Konkani culture, music etc are in sync with ours. At no point of time should we compromise with Karnataka, even if we settle the Mhadei dispute. Unless we show them their place, they will continue haunting us. We know that politicians can never be trusted. It is not known if all the Goans will agree but that will be the best solution. Goa is a space deficient State.
I request all opposition parties including politicians and NGOs and lovers of Konkani to give a serious thought to it and come together to put a brake on Karnataka, whose behaviour is akin to Russia bullying little Ukraine.
Goa missed reorganisation of States on linguistic basis but later too many States were carved out like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Telangana, etc. So this solution can be undertaken easily.
Let us remain united and strong to achieve what is required for Goa.
