This is in reference to ‘Show of unity: Goenkars intensify their fight against the project at Sancoale.’ It was heartening to see so many people participating in a peaceful candle light rally to fight against the project proposed on green belt zone which will affect the pristine hill and the surrounding villages of Sancoale.
Many such rallies were held earlier against many burning issues affecting the state of Goa. These agitations, rallies were powerful but were they effective and successful? Citing recent examples of such rallies, rally against illegal construction of bungalow in the heritage zone at Old Goa, agitation against Mopa airport, agitation against the double tracking, agitation against hill cutting, deforestation and so on.
Despite such agitations and rallies what is seen is double tracking goes on full swing and ninety percent work on it is completed, Mopa greenfield airport began its operation, hill cutting is rampant, deforestation goes unabated and the list is endless. Just to recall, in 70s, Goa used to witness students’ agitations.
These agitations were powerful, effective and fruitful in many ways. Government then used to be stunned by such agitations and rallies. One such agitation was reducing the bus fare for the students. All students came out on the streets to support this demand and the government bowed down to their demands and the bus fare was reduced to fifty percent.
Obviously, there were only a handful of student leaders then, but they were powerful, effective and successful. The result of their agitation and rallies were felt by the government and the people of Goa. Today, Goa needs such type of leaders and rallies to wake up the Government and make them to listen to the agitating citizens so that the hills, green fields, water bodies and land are protected for the welfare of the citizens of Goa.
Rui Pereira, Navelim
Arrest environmental
destruction of Goa
A ground swell of protest is building up in Goa with hundreds of locals conducting a candle light march against the Bhutani mega project in Sancoale which will destroy Goa's hills and water tanks. Locals are also up in arms against a project coming up in Old Goa which is in contravention of Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1978 which prohibits mining and digging near protected monuments.
Five-star and four-star hotel projects in the proximity of Reis Magos fort is being opposed since it will destroy the greenery and hills and will displace our traditional fishermen. A massive protest against all these projects should be held in tandem by the people, environmentalists, ecologists and NGOs to protect Goa from further concretisation.
Stephen Dias, Dona Paula
Mass movement
against mega projects
Hundreds of locals participated in a peaceful candlelight march against the Bhutani project in Sancoale on Sunday, as they along with activists and political leaders demanded that it be scrapped.
It was assuring to note that the movement was supported by citizens from North Goa as well. This only goes to prove that Goans will unite whenever injustice is being done and the motherland is being destroyed. It may be recalled that the Goans came out on the streets to stop the polluting Meta Strips factory at Sancoale in 2000.
Goans also unitedly fought during the Konkani language agitation in 1986-87. In both instances, like several other agitations, the people’s power prevailed. Now Goans are back on the streets to protest against mega housing projects promoted by builders from outside Goa which will destroy our forests, hills and fields. Storm is brewing in Pomburpa over mega projects in No Development Zone (NDZ). Eoxim villagers are protesting against the controversial housing development projects. The Reis Magos hill has been devastated by the proposed DLF project. It is learnt that a private university is coming up on a 2-lakh square meter land in Thivim. There are also several other projects approved, some in eco-sensitive zones. We need to protect our forests and hills in order to prevent a Wayanad like disaster and preserve our land for future generations.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Humpy-bumpy
rides on roads
The heavy monsoon showers from June through September every year, coupled with the topography of the coastal belt, wreak havoc on the roads, riddling them with potholes and entire sections of the roads, caving in or getting severely eroded.
The loose gravel on the roads and the omnipresent potholes force vehicles to swerve left and right to avoid them, with imminent danger of accidents from oncoming and following traffic. Potholes have become a major menace to life and limb, especially for two-wheelers. Contractors who constructed the roads have got away scotfree after collecting their money. The government has utterly failed to focus on road repair works, resulting in roads that have turned into a nightmare for motorists. The Public Works department (PWD) has become the butt of memes and jokes. The government should have taken action against contractors by invoking the terms and conditions of the contracts for poor quality of laying and repairing of roads. The basic requirement of commuters is left unanswered: good roads. Public should start pothole-free movement by filling potholes with mud and cow dung. This government is just denying basic rights to people.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Promised golden
millennium
The celebrated French physician, astrologer and seer had predicted in his lifetime that a period known as a golden millennium would envelop the earth after bloody conflicts. Is it possible that that period is now? We are seeing two major wars between Russia and Ukraine and another between Israel and Hamas as well as the Iran-supported militias such as the Hezbollah and Houthis which seems to be spiraling out of control. It is at this juncture that efforts should be made to have major PoWs exchange as well as a ceasefire in order to facilitate for release of hostages in these respective conflicts.
Then little by little minor ceasefires in these conflicts can be implemented and the wars can be stopped. Under no circumstance should an outbreak of nuclear war be allowed to happen. It has been known that especially in the Marshall islands where America used to test nuclear bombs, is still experiencing very high levels of radiation as well as the nuclear power plant meltdown in Fukushima which accounted for about 3000 deaths due to the earthquake and tsunami are recent warnings that a nuclear war should anyway be prevented. The time is ripe for world leaders to galvanize diplomatic means to stop the two wars and to begin to usher in the golden millennium on earth just like Nostradamus had predicted. People are tired of war and it is time for peace and understanding to lead to cessation of conflict on earth.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Save life giving rivers
from being polluted
Though rivers are national assets, there is little awareness among the people about ways to preserve their purity and utility. Besides being indispensable for day-to-day use, including agricultural purposes, they serve as a great inland mode of transportation that can bolster trade and commerce. Biodiversity would have been a thing of the past but for the rivers.
The river system, of course, is earth's highest biological diversity zone. World Rivers Day, that was observed on September 22, aims at spreading awareness about the essential role played by rivers in sustaining life on earth. Only about ten percent of the river basins in the world are protected. Dams, encroachments and deforestation have threatened their very existence.
Therefore, saving and celebrating rivers cannot be overstated. Campaign against construction of dams is an integral part of " saving rivers" because preserving free-flowing rivers is the key. It is indisputable that " water is for all". That said, it is every citizen's responsibility to keep the nation's rivers clean and pollution-free devoid of dump and industrial wastage.
A country's rivers cannot be allowed to become sites for garbage and sewage disposal. River management, river pollution and river conservation are three areas that have rightly seized the attention of experts. Rivers, ecosystem and society are significantly interlinked to represent the " waterways of life".
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola